Lessons for Upgrading Los Angeles’ Slow Streets: A Feasibility Study for Making the L.A. Slow Streets Program Permanent in a Post-COVID City

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, cities around the world reallocated street space not being used by commuters to people for outdoor recreation. Los Angeles Slow Streets began in May 2020, implemented by LADOT with support from StreetsLA and guidance from the Mayor’s Office. The aim was to slow vehicles and discourage non-local traffic on neighborhood Slow Streets. In June 2020, Councilman Ryu introduced a motion to make Slow Streets permanent. This report is a response to a call for an analysis of the feasibility of implementing permanent Slow Streets. The analysis section of this report includes three main foci: case studies, alignment with other mobility programs, and policy implications.Based on the findings in this report, L.A. has the potential to implement a program that serves each of its diverse communities using context-based decisions for implementing traffic calming infrastructure and regulations. The feasibility for a permanent Slow Streets program is improved by current state-level political support for legislation that will allow the city to formally designate Slow Street corridors. Additionally, permanent Slow Street development is aided by the momentum from other projects in the city that aim to improve safety and public health across the City’s transportation network. Slow Streets began as an opportunistic experiment for improving safety and health for Angelenos. Now, the City can work with communities to develop a permanent program that will change the way Angelenos use the streets for years to come