Proponents of the Fountain Avenue Streetscape Project say frequent crashes demonstrate the need for greater safety measures. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Seven West Hollywood City Council candidates gave voters insight into their transportation policy during the Streets For All Mobility Debate on Sept. 15 via Zoom.

Candidates responded to questions about transportation policy, including their thoughts on the Fountain Avenue Streetscape project, the San Vicente-Fairfax Metro route, bus-only lanes, street safety, Santa Monica Boulevard redesign and the San Vicente Streetscape Plaza. 

Candidates invited to the debate were Councilwoman Chelsea Byers, Larry Block, Kyle Brazeal, Jonathan Cottrell, Kody Christiansen, John Duran, Helen Krieger, Stephen Post and Tanya Tsikanovsky.

Streets For All founder and CEO Michael Schneider moderated and hosted the debate, which featured seven of the 14 candidates on the November ballot. Duran was invited to the debate but could not attend due to scheduling conflicts. Christiansen withdrew from the debate and asked Streets For All to replace him with a candidate who has not yet had the opportunity to participate in a candidate debate. Streets For All did not replace Christiansen’s spot and proceeded with the debate.

Phase One of the Fountain Streetscape Project, approved by the City Council on Sept. 15, 2025, includes protected bike lanes, a new street layout with one vehicle lane in each direction, high-visibility crosswalks, painted curb extensions on the side streets, self-watering planters and publicly visible bicycle counters. Phase Two of the project is a planned full reconstruction of Fountain Avenue to bring the curb ramps and sidewalks into ADA compliance. Planning for phase two will begin later this year.

On the Fountain Avenue Streetscape project, Byers, Cottrell, Krieger and Post said they supported the approved plan. Block, Brazeal and Tsikanovsky do not support the project. Block said he would not oppose a pilot program with traffic-calming measures, similar to those initiated on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Post said he is extremely supportive of the streetscape project.

“For me, this comes down to safety above all else,” Post said. “Fountain should be a neighborhood street where people feel safe, not a shortcut that’s being built around moving cars as quickly as possible through our neighborhood.”

Tsikanovsky vowed to do everything in her power to undo it, if elected.

“I think this is like the worst idea known to man,” Tsikanovsky said. “Keep the signal improvements, traffic calming and enforcement measures, but do not mistake this particular lane reduction for a way to save lives.”

Byers disagreed and said that since 27-year-old bicyclist Blake Ackerman was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash on Fountain Avenue last year, Fountain Avenue has needed a safety remodel.

“What happened to [Blake] is absolutely devastating. I was there for the rallies and vigils with his friends, family and community members, and those moments still sit with me to this day,” Byers said. “I think we have an absolute moral responsibility to move forward with changes on Fountain Avenue streetscape as fast as possible.”

“I saw somebody killed on Fountain Avenue,” Kreiger said while offering her support for the streetscape project.

Kreiger, who lives on Fountain Avenue, said there is no way to make the sidewalks ADA accessible without taking away a lane of traffic in each direction. Cottrell took a similar stance and said he supports both phases of the Fountain Avenue Streetscape Project.

“Just because the candidates on this day haven’t come up with better solutions doesn’t mean there isn’t one,” Brazeal, who does not support the remodel, said. Although Brazeal did not offer any solutions, he said the city has not examined alternative plans, and he would be open to those conversations before deciding the Fountain Avenue Streetscape Project is the only option.

Streets For All debate co-host Caro Vilain asked candidates if they could redesign Santa Monica Boulevard from scratch, how would they change the street, and whether they supported protected bike lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Tsikanovsky does not support protected bike lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard.

“It’s our main street. It’s one of our busiest corridors. I do not support taking away its travel lanes or on-street business parking for a new curved bike lane design, especially when the K Line could bring major construction to the boulevard already,” Tsikanovsky said. “Santa Monica Boulevard needs to be safer without sacrificing the businesses and residents who depend on it.”

Byers said she gave up her car 11 years ago and said enhanced street safety needs to be a priority. That means adding protected bike lanes wherever the city can, she said. With the impending K Line Northern Extension, she wants to remove more street parking and get more people out of their cars and walking.

“I think about how important [Santa Monica Boulevard] is to the city, to its history; it’s sort of cultural cachet,” Byers said. “People have experienced real joy and freedom on the streets when they’re closed down to car traffic.”

Krieger agreed with Byers that Santa Monica Boulevard needs protected bike lanes. She said if the K Line ends up offering covered parking, the city could potentially redesign the street from scratch.

“I am not a traffic engineer,” Cottrell said, adding that he would rely on the “best minds” in the field to help the city implement a good plan and design. He noted that protected bike lanes benefit pedestrians at intersections.

“That’s actually probably the main reason why [protected bike lanes] have been added to the plan by very smart people,” Cottrell said. “So I do want to encourage everyone to look at those differently and realize that they are actually protecting our intersections for pedestrians and adding the benefit to cyclists.”

Brazeal said there is not necessarily one right answer for Santa Monica Boulevard, and the city needs to look objectively at how to enhance street safety and maintain mobility for the community, both residents and visitors.

Block said that with all the changes coming to Santa Monica Boulevard, the city needs to think about connectivity. He said not every street improvement plan needs a bike lane to accompany it.

Post expressed support for protected bike lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard and said that although people may not see many bike riders on the streets, installing protected bike lanes would encourage people to use alternative transportation to get around West Hollywood.

“Build it, and they will come,” Post said. “I know these bike lanes have encouraged me to stop taking my car.”

On the San Vicente Streetscape Plaza, a city project that would create frequent street closures on San Vicente Boulevard, add new trees, park space and include a concept called the Sky Sanctuary, all present candidates except Tsikanovsky expressed support for the project.

Tsikanovsky said she would keep the San Vicente Streetscape Plaza paused since the cost to redesign the block has risen from an estimated $2 million to now more than $20 million. She also said that since the K Line plan includes a station at San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevard, the city should not spend that kind of money on a streetscape before it knows how the station and its construction will affect the block.

“The city has other priorities, including the fire station and our parks. Residents also need safer crossings on San Vicente, not just an expensive plaza years from now,” Tsikanovsky said. “If the plaza still makes sense after Metro’s design is settled and outside funding can substantially pay for it, bring it back for consideration. But until then, the pause is the responsible choice, and I support it.”

Byers said she “loves” the project.

Candidates were also asked whether they support Metro’s selected San Vicente/Fairfax route for the K Line Northern Extension and what the city could do now to make getting to and from the future station without a car easier.

Byers, Cottrell, Krieger, Post and Tsikanovsky all expressed their support for the proposed route. Block said he was opposed.

“I prefer that we have a Disneyland approach to West Hollywood,” Block said. “We could have the Metro at the outskirts of the town with shuttles coming into West Hollywood.”

Brazeal offered conditional support for the K Line San Vicente Fairfax route, and said that the city should not jeopardize its financial future to fund one project. For the project to be feasible, Brazeal said the city needs to rely on state and federal grants.

“I don’t think this becomes something that the city of West Hollywood can sustain by itself,” Brazeal said. “I think in the meantime, what we should be doing is demonstrating an ability to get people to take transit as we revisit our transportation structure and services.”

On full-time bus lanes along La Cienega Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, Cottrell, Krieger, Byers, Block and Post supported bus-only lanes. Brazeal preferred peak-hour lanes over full-time bus lanes. Tsikanovsky said the city needs to review ridership numbers and conduct traffic impact studies before taking a traffic lane for a bus lane. 

The city will host the next City Council moderated candidates’ town hall on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 12 p.m. at the Aquatic and Recreation Center. Attendees must RSVP and can cast their vote for which City Council candidate they want to see at the forum.