Project Scope of Work
The Westside Bus Connection Project (Project) contemplates the development of construction ready bus infrastructure designs on the following three Westside corridors: (1) Santa Monica Boulevard west of Beverly Hills; (2) Sepulveda Boulevard between UCLA and LAX, and (3) the combined north-south La Cienega Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard corridor from West Hollywood to Westchester. The Project will be limited to gathering research, conducting community outreach, and developing final design plans for quick-build bus infrastructure along the foregoing corridors. The quick-build improvements will provide long-term benefits for riders while preparing the Westside for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The bus infrastructure designs shall include but are not limited to:
The conversion of existing general purpose lanes and parking lanes into peak hour / dedicated bus lanes and/or bicycle lanes.
Transit queue-jumper lanes
Transit signal upgrades
Signing and striping modifications
Quick-build improvements such as bollards to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety
Incorporation of existing bus layover facilities within Santa Monica Boulevard (between Avenue of the Stars and Century Park East)
Bus pads at a limited number of high-need bus stops
See Attachment 1 for a map visualizing the current scope of work for the project.
Background
In 2016, Metro established and programmed $1.2 billion to the Measure M Subregional Equity Program (SEP) to provide equivalent funding to each subregion for projects related to transit or highway modes, including first/last mile, active transportation, and complete streets improvements. In 2022, the WSCCOG Board approved the allocation of SEP funding to advance several unfunded bus lane or bus rapid transit (BRT) projects included in the 2020 WSCCOG Mobility Study and 2021 WSCCOG Unfunded Strategic Project List. In December 2022, the WSCCOG Board allocated $100 million in SEP funds to advance BRT and related bus infrastructure in the subregion, and the remaining funds towards the K Line (Crenshaw/LAX) Northern Extension project and the D Line (Purple) extension to Santa Monica.
In January 2024, the WSCCOG Transportation Working Group (TWG) met to determine how near-term SEP funding could support a car-free 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and increase connectivity for Westside communities. Through these discussions, the TWG collaborated to prioritize regional bus infrastructure for near-term SEP funding. At a minimum, bus infrastructure would include, but not be limited to, peak-hour dedicated bus lanes with the expectation that additional transit enhancements could be made to each corridor where possible and over time. Designing bus infrastructure on the Westside aligns with the short and long-term goals of Metro and the WSCCOG member jurisdictions. In February 2025, the WSCCOG Board programmed $2,675,586 in Metro Measure M SEP funds for bus infrastructure on the three of the Westsides busiest corridors. In May 2025, Metro approved the WSCCOG programming request.
In June 2025, the WSCCOG Board authorized jurisdiction staff to draft and release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a consultant to design bus infrastructure on (1) Santa Monica Boulevard west of Beverly Hills; (2) Sepulveda Boulevard between UCLA and LAX; and (3) the combined north-south La Cienega Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard corridor from West Hollywood to Westchester (Westside Bus Connection Program). In August 2025, the WSCCOG Board selected STV, Inc. as the consultant team to perform the design work for the Westside Bus Connection Program. In December 2025, the WSCCOG Board off-ramped several segments along the three corridors due to existing or planned multimodal improvements in those areas. The proposed project consists of developing construction ready designs and plans, and potentially funding and overseeing the implementation of such plans if approved by WSCCOGs member agencies having jurisdiction to authorize the implementation of the Westside Bus Connection Program. (Project)
During design, the WSCCOG serves as both the funding agency and the Project lead overseeing corridor-wide design across its member jurisdictions. Once design is complete, each member agency shall decide whether to proceed with the implementation of the Westside Bus Connection Program pursuant to said designs. If approved by the member jurisdiction, the WSCCOGs anticipated role will shift to that of a funding pass-through agency during construction. The WSCCOG itself will not undertake any construction activities. Rather, the WSCCOG's role will be limited to funding the construction of the designs for the Westside Bus Connection Program and overseeing the foregoing. If each member jurisdiction authorizes the implementation of such plans, the WSCCOG will pass through funding to the local jurisdictions via Metro's SEP funds, which are allocated annually to the WSCCOG. Currently, the Project has just completed 10% design and is proceeding into 30% design for the remaining segments (see Attachment 1).
