A new section of the L.A. River Bikeway opens between Winnetka and Vanowen in the San Fernando Valley opened in August. Metro contributed $5 million to the project. Photo: city of Los Angeles.

Photo Credit: City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works

Marking another noteworthy achievement for Metro’s Call for Projects Program, transportation officials from the city and county of Los Angeles this morning announced the grand opening of a brand new section of L.A. River Bikeway in the western San Fernando Valley.

Located between Winnetka and Vanowen Streets in the neighborhood of Winnetka, the newly completed half-mile segment of bikeway has an impressive list of amenities, including newly striped dedicated pedestrian/bike path, signage, bridge underpasses, landscaping, drinking fountains, benches, exercise equipment and solar LED lighting.

Metro contributed nearly $5 million, or about 84 percent of the $6.75 million segment cost, through its Call for Projects Program, a biannual capital investment program for projects such as pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Under the Regional Surface Transportation Improvements category, the program funded the widening of Winnetka and Vanowen Streets over the L.A. River as well as underpasses that eliminate the need for pedestrians or cyclists to negotiate busy road crossings with cars.

Construction for the last half-mile bikeway segment began in November 2012. It officially concludes a two-mile Class I bikeway and shared path that stretches from Vanalden Street to Mason Street.

Metro has been involved in other efforts to create a regionally connected bikeway network on the L.A. River. Metro is now in the process of developing a proposed scope for studying an in-channel bike path design to connect Taylor Yard (i.e. Rio de Los Angeles State Park, which is north of downtown L.A.) with the city of Maywood. Metro will present its Board of Directors with recommendations on the study scope and timeline next month.

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