Better Overland Project

Overview

The Better Overland Project is transforming Overland Avenue into a low-stress, high-comfort active transportation corridor. The project creates a north-south backbone featuring over 2.5 miles of protected bike lanes, extending from Venice Boulevard southward to the Fox Hills Neighborhood, including the Culver City Transit Center. The project also includes new and enhanced sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, sidewalk-facing streetlighting, and introduces new traffic signals at Overland Avenue’s intersections with Kelmore Avenue/Ranch Road and Sawtelle Boulevard. Together, these improvements will transform Overland Avenue into a safe and welcoming active transportation corridor, linking our neighborhoods and making walking & biking practical, enjoyable ways to move throughout the City.

Project Status

The City Council approved the conceptual plans for the Better Overland Project at their May 28, 2024, meeting. City staff are now working to design & build the project in phases. The project is currently in Phase 1—Engineering Design.

Review the Conceptual Plans(PDF, 6MB)

Phase 1

Phase 1 will add protected bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and pedestrian safety improvements along Overland Avenue between Venice Boulevard and Culver Boulevard. This initial phase closes a critical gap in the bikeway network by linking the existing protected bike lanes on Venice Boulevard with the conventional bike lanes currently in place on Overland Avenue south of Culver Boulevard to Ballona Creek. Due to limited budget, Phase 1 is being built using lower cost materials, such as flexposts, and does not include traffic signal or ADA/curb ramp modifications given the high cost of these improvements.

Phase 1 Funding

Limited funding is available for Phase 1. The City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget on June 9, 2025, which includes approximately $1.4 million to finalize design & construct Phase 1.  Funding is being provided from the following sources:

• The City's General Fund (non-reserve)
• The Mobility Improvement Fund
• The Metro Active Transportation (MAT) Program Cycle 1

Staff anticipate that the construction cost will be approximately $1.4 million. The City will know the final construction cost once engineering design is complete and construction bids are received. If additional funding is needed, City staff expect sufficient funding will be available in the City's Mobility Improvement Fund to cover the difference.

Phase 2

Phase 2 will add protected bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and pedestrian safety improvements along Overland Avenue between the Ballona Creek and Freshman Dr (West LA College). Phase 2 will also includes traffic signal modifications at Overland Ave & Virginia Ave, Jefferson Blvd, Maytime Lane, and Freshman Dr that will shorten pedestrian crossing distances, slow vehicle turning speeds, and improve safety for people biking and those with disabilities. Phase 2 will connect to the existing conventional bike lanes on Overland Ave between Culver Blvd and the Ballona Creek.

Phase 2 Funding

The anticipated cost to design and construct Phase 2 is $5.4 million. The cost of Phase 2 is higher than Phase 1 because it includes extensive traffic signal modification and ADA/curb ramp work to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety. The City applied to Metro's Active Transport, Transit, and First/Last Mile (MAT) Cycle 2 Grant Program for funding on April 7, 2025. On August 14, 2025, Metro staff announced that Better Overland Phase 2 was recommended for full funding. The Metro Board of Directors is anticipated to consider approval of the project selection recommendations at the Planning and Programming Committee meeting on September 17, 2025, and the Regular Board Meeting on September 25, 2025.

Assuming that the City receives funding from MAT Cycle 2, work on Phase 2—including additional community outreach, detailed engineering design, and construction—is expected to begin in late 2026.

Upgrading the existing conventional bike lanes on Overland Avenue between Culver Boulevard and the Ballona Creek Bike Path is not included in Phase 2. Upgrades to this segment of Overland Avenue requires authorization by the City Council and, if approved, would come in a subsequent phase of the Better Overland Project.

Community Outreach

Extensive community outreach has been and continues to be performed in support of the Better Overland Project. The City will continue to perform outreach through a variety of channels, including email updates, social media posts, and construction notices.