Committee adopts amended ordinance to implement Measure HLA; clarifies restriping does not trigger HLA

At a joint meeting of the Los Angeles City Transportation Committee and the Board of Public Works, members voted to adopt the city attorney's report and a draft ordinance implementing Measure HLA as amended by committee chairs and the public works chair.

The committee's action, adopted by roll call, included a package of amendments that clarify what constitutes a "mobility plan project," add administrative steps for implementing the mobility plan dashboard, extend some appeal and processing time limits, and direct departments to report back with implementation flowcharts and timelines.

The changes aim to speed deployment of safety improvements while establishing procedures for coordination among the Department of Transportation (LADOT), the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) and the Bureau of Street Services (BSS). The amended ordinance language explicitly states that "restriping of the road to be consistent with the mobility plan enhanced street system designation without making other improvements is also not an improvement for the purposes of LAMC 85.11(a)," and the city attorney told the committee that Measure HLA "does have a carve out for restriping without making other improvements."

Why it matters: Measure HLA creates a legal framework and voter-backed requirements for installing mobility-plan street improvements when the city repaves or otherwise makes certain roadway alterations. The committee's clarifications are intended to allow quicker deployment of relatively low-cost safety measures (for example, bus lanes, striping changes, speed humps) without triggering the full set of HLA procedures that apply when the city performs major resurfacing or other alterations.

Key changes and clarifications - Restriping and routine maintenance: The adopted text clarifies that basic restriping, slurry seal followed by…