LA Council Takes Step Toward Closing Gap On 14-Mile Bike Path

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Los Angeles City Council today took a major step toward creating a continuous 14-mile bicycle network from the Santa Monica Pier to USC and Exposition Park.

The City Council unanimously voted to use eminent domain to take portions of eight properties, between Motor Avenue and Overland Avenue, to construct a 0.28-mile bike path as part of an effort to close a one-mile gap in the Expo Line Bikeway.

"This will close a critical gap in the around-14 mile east-west cycling network. It will connect downtown L.A. with Santa Monica and all the destinations in between," said Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents the neighborhood with the path's gap. The councilman said he has been working on this project for 12 years.

Carlos Rios, principal transportation engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, said the city has already secured five of the 13 properties needed to close the gap, and the eight being voted on Tuesday were the last ones needed. The five already-secured properties were obtained by the city through negotiation settlements, not eminent domain, according to the City Attorney's Office.

"Once we implement this less-than-a-mile segment of the bicycle facility, we will have a continuous 14-mile facility that will allow cyclists to essentially commute from the Santa Monica Pier all the way to theUSC/Exposition Park area," Rios told council members.

Eminent domain attorney Gary Kovacic, who represents five of the property owners, unsuccessfully requested a continuance before the vote. He added that his clients want the bike path to be narrower and farther from their homes. They also want the city to create a sound wall, he said. The condemned areas of seven of the properties are "restricted use utility easements" where the owners were not allowed to build permanent structures because of a utility company's right to access and control the portion of land.

"These residents will not be losing their original front yards or backyards or access to their garages," Koretz said.

— City News Service