Project Description

The overall purpose of the study is to explore opportunities to enhance transit frequency and reliability in the project area. The intent is to maximize the use of existing right-of-way and reduce congestion. Additionally, the study aims to serve communities that rely on public transit to travel to popular nearby destinations such as Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Downtown Los Angeles. The project has been driven by increasing congestion and unreliable transit services, necessitating a thorough multi-step analysis. This included documenting existing roadway and parking conditions, reviewing collision data, bus speeds, and land use, as well as engaging stakeholders through various methods such as online surveys, canvassing efforts, and an open-house forum.

Key external stakeholders for this study include community members and residents who depend on transit, as well as the local neighborhoods and businesses along the corridor. The operators that provide transit service along the study area are also important stakeholders. Although the study area is within the boundaries of the City of Los Angeles, the City of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus (BBB) is the primary operator providing transit service in the study area through its Route 3 and Rapid 3 buses. Other bus operators intersecting this segment include Culver City Bus Lines, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) LAnow On-Demand Shuttle, LADOT Commuter Express, and LA Metro. In addition to the transit operators, this study was also created in collaboration with the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles Council District 11 (CD 11).

Map of Project Area

Need and Purpose

The primary transportation issues this feasibility study focuses on are heavy congestion and a lack of bus lanes on Lincoln Boulevard from Venice Boulevard to West Manchester Avenue. The recent history of efforts to implement bus lanes on Lincoln Boulevard dates back to 2017, when the City of Santa Monica installed peak-hour bus lanes on Lincoln Boulevard between Pico Boulevard and Ozone Avenue. This improvement reduced travel times and increased bus speeds on the BBB Route 3 and Rapid 3 routes within the city's boundaries.

In 2020, recognizing that congestion persists beyond the City of Santa Monica's boundaries and limits the effectiveness of the bus lanes installed in 2017, LADOT and Caltrans partnered on a project known as Lincoln Fast Forward to add another segment of bus lanes on Lincoln Boulevard between Commonwealth Avenue and Venice Boulevard, which is just north of the feasibility study area. 

In 2024, based on the Better Buses for California initiative sponsored by the Caltrans Deputy Director for Planning & Modal Programs, a project proposal for additional bus rapid transit on Lincoln Boulevard was submitted by the City of Los Angeles CD 11 office, further amplifying the need for bus-only lanes on the study corridor. The idea to add bus lanes to Lincoln Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and West Manchester Avenue kicked off this effort.

This feasibility study is separate from the Lincoln Fast Forward project and the State Route 1 Multimodal Improvements Project.

About Us

Caltrans District 7’s Transit Branch provides planning and technical expertise to advance transit improvements, accessibility, and multimodal integration on the State Transportation Network (STN). The team leads development of the District Transit Plan, administers State and Federal transit grants, and supports other functional units with corridor planning, and project delivery activities that prioritize transit.