Transportation Department Proposes to Split Division in Two to Implement Measure R Projects

The city’s Department of Transportation is proposing a budget of $44 million for fiscal year 2024, up from $38.80 million this year. The budget includes funding for three new full-time equivalent staff employees and the creation of a new division.

Transportation Director Laura Cornejo said the new employees would be funded through the Measure R Mobility Improvement Project (MIP) funds.

Currently, there are 51 full time equivalent staff employees and four divisions at the Department of Transportation, namely Parking Division, Transit Division, Mobility Planning Engineering and Operations Division and Administration Division.

Cornejo said the department proposes to split the Mobility Planning Engineering and Operations Division into two in order to help with the efficiency of planning and delivery of Measure R MIP projects.

The new divisions will be called Mobility Engineering and Operations Division and Multi-Modal Planning Division.

Of the total budget, $20.78 million will go to the Parking Division, responsible for maintaining nine city-owned parking garages. 

The Transit Division will receive an allocation of $18.08 million. A total of $3.40 million will go to the Mobility Engineering and Operations Division, $920,000 will go to the Multi-Modal Planning Division, while $810,000 will go to the Administration Division.

Transportation Director Laura Cornejo reported that during FY 2023, the department’s Parking Division issued over 5,200 annual parking permits, 2,400 preferential permits, 31,115 temporary online permits, and over 1,200 surface lot permits.

“We’re slowly seeing an uptick in garages being occupied,” Cornejo said. 

Cornejo also reported that the Transit Division has secured over $8 million in grants to begin implementation of the Zero Emission Bus Rollout plan. It has also secured $700,000 for a pilot project to provide service to Mt. Wilson.

The Mobility Planning, Engineering and Operations Division has completed over 280 traffic investigations and issued over 150 traffic work orders, and reviewed over 300 traffic control plans for construction, filming and events.

The division also secured over $2.5 million in grants for various capital projects and traffic safety enhancements.

The Administration Division has secured Metro approval of $181 million Measure R MIP funding for nine capital projects over ten years, according to Cornejo.

Alex Hernandez from the Department of Transportation said the Parking Division will present to the City Council a parking strategic plan to address a number of issues related to parking. 

“We also have some capital improvements to make on our garages. We hope to replace elevators and most of the city own garages next year as well,” Hernandez said.

“We’re looking to expand online features both for parking offices located here at City Hall and for customers who may just want to get that service from the comfort of their phone or from home.” 

According to Hernandez, in the next fiscal year, the Mobility Engineering and Operations Division will complete the construction of several capital projects, which include the Cordova Street enhancements, S. Lake Avenue Pedestrian enhancements, and Union Street Cycle Track. 

Meanwhile, the Multi-Modal Planning Division will implement a Road Safety Campaign and initiate outreach and design efforts for Measure R MIP funded projects including Pasadena Avenue/St. John roadway network and Avenue 64 Complete Streets program.