Transportation committee approves DOT grant applications, asks DOT to report staff needs if awards come through

The Los Angeles City Transportation Committee on April 23 approved Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) recommendations to submit multiple grant applications and accept various grant-funded project lists, while adding language requiring DOT to report staffing and other resources that would be necessary if grants are awarded.

The committee, chaired by Councilwoman Heather Hutt, approved a package of noncontroversial items that included: accepting Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) funding opportunities, submitting grant applications, accepting an updated Measure M project list, approving related CAO recommendations on grant applications, and reassigning two crossing guards (items 1–7 on the agenda). Council members Hutt, Park and Hernandez voted in favor.

Committee members discussed a City Administrative Officer (CAO) and Bureau of Engineering (BOE) concern that successful grant awards often require additional staff capacity to implement projects. Councilmember Hernandez asked whether the request for roughly 10 additional positions was a requirement to apply; Carlos Rios of LADOT answered, “No. . . . It’s not a requirement. However, just based on the staff’s bandwidth and abilities to be able to deliver these projects, there was a recommendation by the Bureau of Engineering to put in this recommendation for additional resources should the grant be successful.”

Hernandez expressed concern about approving positions amid an ongoing citywide fiscal challenge and layoffs, including planned reductions affecting traffic officers. The committee added an amendment to the motions for items 2 and 3 instructing DOT to report back to Council, if any projects are awarded grant funding, on the necessary resources to implement the proposed projects, “including the required staff.” The committee also referred the matters to the Budget and Finance and Personnel committees, per the meeting record.

The items approved together included: - Item 1: LADOT report accepting SCAG funding for Surface Transportation Block Grant, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, and Carbon Reduction Program solicitations. - Item 2: LADOT report relative to LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority active transport, transit, and first/last-mile Cycle 2 call for projects (approved as amended to require DOT report-back on staffing/resources if awarded). - Item 3: LADOT report submitting 21 grant applications to SCAG for the 2025 STBG and CMAQ solicitations (approved as amended like item 2). - Item 4: Board of Transportation Commissioners report establishing a temporary preferential parking district in Pico (concurred with the board). - Item 5: LADOT update to the Westside COG Measure M multiyear subregional program funds project list (approved). - Item 6: CAO report relative to grant applications for SCAG STBG and CMAQ programs for FY 2026–28 (approved). - Item 7: Motion reassigning two crossing guards to two elementary schools (adopted).

Committee members clarified that the amendment asking DOT to report on necessary resources is intended as an addition to the staff recommendations rather than a substitution; the committee chair noted the instruction uses the word “necessary” and that the CAO and BOE would be involved in assessing capacity. The committee recorded that these items would be referred to budget and personnel for further review.

The vote on these grouped items was recorded as: Councilmember Heather Hutt — yes; Councilmember Park — yes; Councilmember Hernandez — yes. The clerk certified the motion as carried.

Background: LADOT and BOE staff said previous success in winning grants has outpaced the department’s staffing bandwidth, prompting BOE’s recommendation that resource needs be identified and reported if awards are received. No specific funding source for the additional positions was identified during the discussion; BOE staff were not present to confirm whether the positions had been requested in the current or upcoming budget.