STREET TALK March 31, 2015 From the desk of Nazario Sauceda, Director Eric Garcetti Mayor Bureau of Street Services Groundbreaking Ceremony in Watts On March 16, 2015, Councilmember Joe Buscaino, Commissioner Mike Davis of the Board of Public Works, General Manager Danielle Brazelle of the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Bureau of Street Services, and local community groups celebrated the groundbreaking for the Watts Streetscape Enhancements Project, a nearly 1-mile long segment of street improvements along 103rd St. from Central Ave. to Grape St. The project, a collaboration between local artists, community groups and two city agencies features 5 irrigated landscaped median islands, a gateway monument, access ramps, trash receptacles, benches, bicycle racks, way finding signage, high-visibility crosswalks, and sidewalk improvements. CicLAvia Pedals Way to Valley On the weekend of March 21st, hundreds of Angelenos participated in CicLAvia which was held primarily in the San Fernando area of the city. CicLAvia catalyzes vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia engages with people to transform our relationship with our communities and with each other. The Bureau’s special events section was involved in the processing of the application. The Bureau’s bike unit Investigators, also participated in the event to ensure public safety and that permit conditions were being met. METRO Exposition Line Tree Planting The Bureau of Street Services collaborated with METRO in the Exposition Line project by providing tree planting services. In early March, Bureau crews planted 25 Palo Verde (Cericidium parkinsonia) and Pink Trumpet (Handroanthus heptapyllus) trees along Exposition Boulevard across from the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. When completed, the Bureau will have planted nearly 250 trees as part of this important project. Successful Collaborations with Neighborhood Councils Based upon an influx in funding, four of the neighborhood councils in the west valley (Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka and Woodland Hills Warner Center) chose to hire the Bureau’s Street Maintenance Division to jointly collaborate in making repairs to their streets and sidewalks. This involved identifying locations of constituent concerns, locations that have been on backlog lists for repairs and inspecting the council areas for potential repairs. Working together with Street Maintenance personnel in developing a list of proposed work areas, the councils approved the lists and then proved funding for work to begin. The identified repairs included entire streets with off-grade sidewalks, potholes, pop-outs and eroded Hollywood Berms and alleys. The Van Nuys Yard pothole truck crews have so far completed 37,301 square feet of work for a total of 8,297 repairs. BUREAU OF STREET SERVICES To request services, please call 311 or visit us online at http://bss.lacity.org/request.html The Department of Public Works is the City’s third largest department and is responsible for the design, construction, renovation, operation, and/or maintenance of public facilities and infrastructure including: municipal buildings, water treatment facilities, streets, bridges, sidewalks, street lights, and the urban forest. To learn more about the Department of Public Works, visit www.bpw.lacity.org