14th District Councilmember José Huizar has announced that construction is now underway for Main & Spring Forward, a complete streets improvement project running through the Historic Core in Downtown Los Angeles.

The project, described as a collaboration between the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and Huizar's DTLA Forward initiative, covers Main Street between Cesar Chavez Avenue and 9th Street and Spring Street between 1st and 9th Streets. Plans call for a variety of pedestrian and street safety improvements, including highlighted by a plan to upgrade existing buffered bicycle lanes to protected bicycle lanes.

Construction is starting with the Spring Street portion of the project, with LADOT expecting to begin work on Main Street by this Summer.

“These Main and Spring Forward improvements are a hallmark of our DTLA Forward initiative and Vision Zero,” said Huizar in a prepared statement. “Regardless of your mode of transportation, all travelers along Downtown Los Angeles’ Spring and Main streets will benefit from these improvements as we work toward creating a more efficient, safer, and pleasant experience for all Angelenos who live, work or visit DTLA.”

“Main and Spring Streets are iconic and beautiful - they are the heart of downtown L.A.,” said Seleta Reynolds, LADOT’s General Manager. “This design brings these historic streets back to the future, organized and safe no matter how you travel. Councilmember Huizar’s leadership on Vision Zero will save lives, benefit businesses, and build a downtown Los Angeles ready for its next evolution.”

One unfortunate casualty of the project will be two parklets that were installed along the 600 block of Spring Street in 2013. Both have provided outdoor gathering space for residents and businesses, but have been damaged on multiple occasions by motorists.

Work started on Monday along Spring between 1st and 7th Streets, the first of several phases of construction. During the course of work, intermittent street closures and parking restrictions can be expected between 9 am and 3 pm. Construction along Spring Street is scheduled to continue between, with the stretch between 7th and 9th Streets expected to begin construction later in 2018.