Boyle Heights residents know firsthand how dangerous some neighborhood streets can be: severe traffic injuries here have more than doubled over the past decade, and nine collisions last year resulted in deaths.
Now, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) wants your input on how to change that.
A new survey, released this month, asks people who walk, bike, bus or drive about their experiences getting around LA, the main issues and concerns they face, the improvements they would like to see and their hope for the future of transportation.
Responses will help the city understand the community priorities as it develops its first Mobility Access Plan (MAP), which will guide investments in safer streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, public transit and more sustainable ways to get around over the next 5-20 years.
What is the MAP and when will these changes be implemented?
The MAP will set out two transportation investment plans: a five-year plan with funded projects set to begin in 2028, and a 20-year plan of unfunded projects slated to be completed through 2052, according to its website.
The results of the MAP will serve as the mobility chapter of the broader citywide Capital Infrastructure Program, an executive directive signed by Mayor Karen Bass last October to improve LA ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.
“This executive directive will create a path for delivering much-needed improvements to our streets, parks, and public spaces in communities throughout Los Angeles,” said Bass in a press release announcing the directive.
Using the survey results, LADOT will create a draft of its plans for transportation infrastructure projects across the city in spring 2026. The department will then collect online feedback from residents citywide before presenting the final plan in late spring that will include details on project locations, costs and timeline.
Boyle Heights’ concerns
Boyle Heights residents have been vocal about the changes they want to see in their neighborhood.
At a recent community meeting with Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, they spoke out on various transportation issues affecting their lives, including pedestrian safety, street maintenance and a lack of working street lights.
Residents said they were disappointed with the lack of improvements to streetlights and street maintenance since Jurado took office last December.
“You promised during your campaign that you would bring light to the city within the first 100 days. We’re almost a year in, and we’re still in the dark,” said Margarita Amador, a lifelong Boyle Heights resident.
Streetlight repairs are already in the works, according to Jurado, who pointed to a $1.07 million allocation for a streetlight repair team that will address widespread outages caused by copper wire theft and aging infrastructure. She said the city expects to begin work at the end of the month.
Regarding neighborhood cleanup, Jurado said the LA Conservation Corps cleans the streets two times per week.
What does the survey entail?
The survey asks for your ZIP code, where you spend the most time in the city and questions about your transportation habits. The options include sidewalk improvements, fewer potholes, improved bus stops, more shade and trees, street lighting, traffic calming measures and bike or bus-only lanes.
The survey is open until Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, and participants have a chance to win a $50 gift card. It’s available online in English and Spanish.
LADOT is also hosting a Community Partner Briefing on Nov. 20 for community-based organizations and neighborhood groups who want to help spread the word. Those interested in joining the discussion can register for the Zoom meeting using this link.
How else can I get involved?
Completing the survey is not the only way that Boyle Heights residents can participate. Council District 14 currently has no representatives on two citizen advisory committees advising LADOT on street safety projects: the Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) and the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC).
To join the PAC, members do not have to be residents of CD14, but they should have a stake in the neighborhood, including being frequent visitors or working in the community. Those interested can contact Committee Chair Deborah Murphy at deborah@losangeleswalks.org.
Anyone interested in joining the BAC should contact LADOT representative Elliot Shaw at elliott.shaw@lacity.org.
