LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Friday that the city has been awarded $43.6 million from the state for infrastructure improvements.

The funds from the California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program will help create three miles of new bicycle and walking paths along the L.A. River in the west San Fernando Valley, and improve street safety and dedicated bike lanes in South Los Angeles, Garcetti said.

“The path to prosperity is paved with smart investments in our infrastructure,” the mayor said. “We are fighting for every dollar possible to make our city more livable, reduce traffic fatalities on our roads, drive improvements on our streets, and create new spaces for walking and biking along our river.”

The California Transportation Commission awarded two grants to Los Angeles, which were secured with the support of the Southern California Association of Governments, which served as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, and L.A. Metro.

In the west San Fernando Valley, an $18.8 million grant will open three miles of LARiverWay trails to the public and help Metro complete a project on the Twenty-Eight By `28 Project list for the L.A. River Bike Path to create a continuous 51-mile path along the L.A. River from Canoga Park to Long Beach by 2025. The Twenty-Eight by`28 program aims to complete 28 major transportation projects ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

In South L.A., $24.8 million will be directed toward the Broadway/Manchester Active Transportation Equity Project for a dedicated bicycle lane; curb, sidewalk and crosswalk enhancements; pedestrian islands and signals; new ADA access ramps; and adding urban shade along the corridor.

“We are glad to see South Los Angeles getting the investment it deserves. This may be the largest known public investment in this neighborhood in generations. We are committed to making up for lost time,” Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson said. “The project will transform this community into a safe and vibrant part of Los Angeles, while also improving mobility, creating a cleaner environment, and increasing access to transportation and jobs.”