Bergamot Area Improvements Progress Toward Completion During Pedestrian Safety Month

October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and Santa Monica Department of Transportation (DOT) is celebrating progress on the Bergamot Area First-Last Mile Improvements Project, now entering its final phase. Originally conceived from the Bergamot Area Plan, adopted by City Council in 2013, the project enhances safety and strengthens connections between local neighborhoods and key destinations—including transit facilities, bikeways, schools, parks, and employment opportunities.  

• Olympic Boulevard (north side), from 26th Street to Stewart Street 
• 26th Street, from Olympic Boulevard to Broadway 
• Stewart Street, from Colorado Avenue to Kansas Avenue, and Colorado Avenue from Stewart Street to Yale Street.
• Pennsylvania Avenue, from Stewart Street to 26th Street. 

• 8,700 linear feet of protected bicycle lane 
• 2,770 linear feet of new sidewalk 
• 29 streetlight poles, including pedestrian-scale lighting 
• 52 trees 
• 2 curb extensions 
• 2 Big Blue Bus boarding islands 
• 2 bicycle signals 
• A new crosswalk and upgraded curb ramps 
• Signal timing adjustments 
• Paint, signs, and markings to clarify the use of space 
• A resurfaced street for a smooth ride 

Watch as Santa Monica DOT, Senior Transportation Planner, Jacqui Swartz, shares more about the improvements.  

The project construction utilized innovative techniques, including a concrete extruder that installed bike lane barriers in a fraction of the time required by traditional concrete pouring! Santa Monica Public Works, Civil Engineering Associate, Steven Becerra, explains the process and benefits of using a concrete extruder. 

The final phase of the Bergamot Area First-Last Mile Connection Improvements Project coincides with Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month. Nationally, October has historically seen some of the highest rates of vehicle collisions involving pedestrians, partly due to shorter daylight hours and reduced visibility during fall evenings. Pedestrian Safety Month serves as a reminder for drivers to slow down, stay alert, and watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others sharing the road. These improvements will help us realize our city-wide goals of eliminating fatal and severe crashes, reducing emissions, building a complete, high-quality transportation network, and ensuring that streets are accessible for all ages and abilities. 

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