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Mid‑pilot review: Move Culver City downtown changes improve bus speeds, businesses and seniors raise access concerns
Summary
Staff reported the revised Move Culver City pilot improved bus speeds and yielded operational savings; public commenters praised transit gains but said downtown parking, curb access and delivery/pickup for seniors and restaurants remain pain points.
Staff presented a mid‑pilot report on the Move Culver City downtown pilot, comparing pre‑implementation counts (2024) to data collected one year after the modified pilot (2025). The report showed transit travel‑time improvements (24% westbound and 11% eastbound savings relative to the earlier configuration) and increased ridership, in part driven by school trips. Staff estimated operational savings compared to the earlier pilot on the order of about $450,000.
Counts of pedestrians and bicyclists at four screenline locations showed no significant year‑to‑year change (within sampling margins). Vehicle travel times showed modest changes (about a one‑minute peak difference in some locations), and screening indicated that traffic volumes shifted from some neighborhood cut‑throughs back toward the downtown corridor.
Public commenters were split. Supporters said the revision balanced bus and bicycle needs with vehicle circulation while improving transit performance. Several business owners and residents said they continue to experience curbside access issues for deliveries, ride‑hail and seniors, and asked for additional data on sales tax and business impacts. Staff said the final report will include more performance metrics, possibly sales tax data, parking occupancy, collision metrics and emergency response times, and that the final report is planned for release before November when the council will evaluate whether to proceed.
Council members asked about headways and service frequency; staff said current headways are about 12–15 minutes and expressed concern that operator shortage and yard capacity constrain more service. Staff also noted recent changes to the transit center that have shaved minutes from operator run times but that other physical constraints remain. Members praised the data‑driven approach and encouraged staff to consider how to increase frequency and operational reliability to maximize the pilot’s benefits.
The subcommittee did not take a final vote on the pilot; staff will finalize the pilot evaluation and return to the City Council with a full report later this year.
