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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Nearly 70 trees could soon be planted along Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood as part of a plan by Councilman Mitch O'Farrell to improve mobility and livability on the busy corridor, according to a motion introduced Wednesday.
O'Farrell's motion calls for $387,000 to be transferred from the city's Office of Community Beautification for the trees. The proposed project would be implemented in partnership with the Bureau of Street Services and two nonprofits: the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative and Koreatown Youth + Community Center.
The trees are part of the LANI Santa Monica Improvement Project, which also includes building 16 bus shelters, bus pads, pedestrian-scale lighting and high-visibility crosswalks.
Construction on the $1.2 million project, which would be fully financed after plans for the trees are finalized, is expected to be completed next summer.
In a statement, O'Farrell said a corridor as busy as Santa Monica Boulevard -- which contains multiple bus lines and a major subway stop, and is also near Los Angeles City College -- deserves to be safer and healthier for its residents.
"I am so excited to break ground on this effort and to bring to life this exciting vision that will improve the environment and mobility options for people in East Hollywood," O'Farrell said.