Eight months and six public meetings have culminated in the unveiling of the draft San Pedro waterfront connectivity plan. This comprehensive initiative aims to enhance the connectivity of the San Pedro waterfront with its neighboring Downtown area. Spearheaded by the Port of Los Angeles and executed in collaboration with the landscape architecture firm SWA Group, the plan tackles issues such as pedestrian and vehicular circulation, public transportation, and the creation of inviting open spaces. With a focus on community engagement and revitalization, the draft plan presents a vision that can transform the San Pedro waterfront into a vibrant and accessible destination.
The Port of Los Angeles has long been invested in transforming the LA Waterfront into a hub of recreation and tourism. Over the past two decades, it has poured approximately $234 million into infrastructure improvements, including creating open spaces and a waterfront promenade, according to a recent report in Urbanize LA.
“The Port of Los Angeles has made significant investments over the last two decades focused on deindustrializing the LA Waterfront and transforming it into a visitor and recreational destination,” said Port Director of Waterfront and Commercial Real Estate Mike Galvin in a news release. “Community input has been a critical component throughout the process. As we release this draft Connectivity Plan, we encourage the public to continue to weigh in as we finalize its development.”
The draft plan encompasses an extensive study area of approximately 460 acres and eight miles of waterfront property. Here are some of the key recommendations, categorized by their respective areas of focus:
Roadways:
Extend Harbor Boulevard from SP Slip to 22nd Street.
Enhance 22nd Street with wider sidewalks, bike lanes, transit stops, shade, and wayfinding features.
Improve Signal Street with new curb, gutter, lighting, and fiber network.
Create a traffic circle at the Via Cabrillo – Marina & Shoshonean Road intersection.
Parking:
Expand the 22nd Street surface parking lot to accommodate 500 to 600 new stalls.
Construct parking structures at the Inner Harbor Cruise Ship Terminal.
Develop new multi-level parking garages below the bluff between Miner Street and Harbor Boulevard.
Transit:
Enhance the 7th Street & Pacific Avenue transit hub with wayfinding features and transit amenities.
Upgrade the Harbor Beacon Park & Ride lot to include micromobility charging and rental stations, wayfinding signage, and bicycle and pedestrian links to the waterfront.
Establish a stronger San Pedro Trolley system with station amenities and connections to intermodal hubs, event destinations, and Wilmington.
Implement a historic trolley attraction with three stops.
Create a water taxi service with multiple stops along the waterfront, including an extension to Long Beach in the future.
Pedestrians:
Complete phase two of the San Pedro Waterfront Promenade.
Enhance pedestrian infrastructure at key intersections.
Create new promenades and accessible paths to connect various waterfront areas.
Establish pedestrian linkages between the bluffs and Harbor Boulevard through proposed parking garages.
Cyclists:
Relocate the Harbor Boulevard bike path lane within the rail right-of-way.
Develop Class IV bikeways on Miner Street, 22nd Street, and Pacific Avenue.
Convert a portion of rail right-of-way into a shared-use path adjacent to the proposed trolley attraction.
Open Space:
Complete the Harbor Boulevard Parkway Improvements.
Beautify the Interstate 110 Harbor Approach with a multi-use pathway and welcome signage.
Transform vacant space south of 22nd Street into an open plaza with waterfront seating.
Establish micromobility hubs at various locations.
Add new open space in conjunction with the redevelopment of Warehouse 1.
Art:
Create a sculpture park within 22nd Street Park.
Install art pieces at key gateways and intersections.
Recreational Boating and Wayfinding Signage: Improve access to recreational boating and implement effective wayfinding signage.
Given the scope of the recommended projects and their associated costs, completion is expected to occur over multiple phases. Some projects may not see fruition until more than a decade into the future. Priority projects for the first year include upgrades to Harbor Boulevard and bikeway enhancements due to their proximity to the West Harbor development. Subsequently, attention will shift toward other essential projects, such as the 22nd Street Complete Streets initiative, the 7th & Pacific transit hub, and the proposed promenade at the S.P. Slip.
The draft plan will be presented to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners on September 7 for feedback. In keeping with the commitment to community engagement, another community meeting is scheduled for September 28. This meeting will provide an opportunity for additional outreach and input from the public.
