“Connect Beverly Hills” wants to use public art installations to make Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards more attractive for subway riders. (photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills)

“Connect Beverly Hills: Meet Me on Wilshire and La Cienega,” the city’s initiative to develop design standards and streetscape plans for Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards, will be led by the city’s Traffic and Parking Commission, the City Council decided on Aug. 18.

The streets are expected to see major changes when two subway stations, Wilshire/La Cienega and Wilshire/Rodeo, open in 2023 and 2025, respectively, and bring an influx of pedestrians.

During the council’s study session on Aug. 18, city staff and Nat Gale of the consulting firm Toole Design had proposed that the city’s Planning Commission could handle the project, as land use will be a major component of the coming discussions. Gale added that approximately 20% of space along Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards is surface parking lots, which can create “dead space” for pedestrians, while unique architecture, historic buildings and public art can make these corridors more inviting.

“This provides an opportunity to really put people first on Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards,” Gale said.

The council members, however, said transportation will be a primary concern for the streetscape redesign, making the Traffic and Parking Commission a better fit for the four public meetings that will be held. One major consideration for “Connect Beverly Hills” is a potential mobility hub at Wilshire Boulevard and North Gale Drive, which is two blocks from the intersection of Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards. That mobility hub could include “passenger drop-off and pick-up [areas], shuttle connections and long-term bicycle parking,” according to the staff report.

“We’re talking less about land-use provisions … and more about mobility,” Councilwoman Lili Bosse said.

Councilman Julian Gold pointed out that the Planning Commission is likely to also have to consider several large development projects at the same time, and he was worried about spreading the commissioners too thin.

“It seems to me that we’re asking an awful lot of them … I’m skeptical that they’re going to be able to accomplish it all,” Gold said.

However, because land use will be a consideration, the council members suggested that an ad hoc committee could be formed or the Planning Commission could furnish liaisons to ensure that all issues are considered.

“There are integrated concepts here. I could picture having a representative or two from the Planning Commission serving in some sort of capacity as well,” Vice Mayor Robert Wunderlich said.

Councilman John Mirisch also made clear that the residents of the areas near Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards must have their interests represented and quality of life protected. His suggestion was echoed by Wunderlich and Mayor Lester Friedman.

“I’d like to hear their voice and give them an amplified voice … It’s right in their wheelhouse and backyard, and I think we need to figure out a way to do that … I think livability has to be part of this as well,” Mirisch said.

“I think we need to be sure that we have residents and users of the area be involved,” Friedman added.

Because Metro was able to accelerate construction of the Purple Line Extension during the reduced traffic and business closures during the coronavirus pandemic, Beverly Hills is looking to move quickly on “Connect Beverly Hills” and other Metro-related matters. Susan Healy Keene, the city’s community development director, said Beverly Hills needs to decide on its choices for the North Portal – a separate entrance for the Wilshire/Rodeo station that would be on the north side of Wilshire Boulevard to provide easier access to the Business Triangle – by the end of October. Deputy Director of Transportation Aaron Kunz added the design standards for the area around the Wilshire/La Cienega station need to be finalized by early- to mid-2021.

“Because the project has been sped up through COVID and the ability for Metro to move a little bit faster … everything has sped up. We want to make sure we have the ability to weigh in,” Keene said.

The city is seeking input from residents and stakeholders at connect.beverlyhills.org, where a 10-minute Design Elements Preference Survey asks about preferred “types and styles of streetscape amenities [and] what types of transportation, design and informational elements should be provided at a potential future Gale Mobility Hub at Wilshire Boulevard/North Gale Drive,” according to a release from the Beverly Hills Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering Division.

Draft concept designs are expected to be presented for public review this fall, according to the release.

For information, visit connect.beverlyhills.org, email transportation@beverlyhills.org or call (310)285-1128.