Just two weeks ago, a scathing audit of LA’s Vision Zero program was released. It showed how leadership failures have led to a near doubling in traffic deaths since 2015 – despite 2025 being the year that we were supposed to achieve zero deaths. Last year, over 300 people were killed because of our deadly streets, and many more thousands seriously injured.
This is the first full budget proposed after Measure HLA became law last year – and one might assume that it would respond to the will of the voters.
However, the Mayor's draft budget, responding to a $1B deficit, partially driven by lawsuit payments from dangerous conditions on our streets, is resulting in massive cuts to the agencies that manage street safety: LADOT and StreetsLA. In fact, they will see the most budget reduction of any department besides civilian LAPD support.
These cuts are going to significantly reduce safety and comfort on LA’s road network - the city’s largest public asset. These cuts would be catastrophic at any moment, but feel particularly shortsighted with global events like the Olympics and World Cup around the corner.
We’ve read through budget reports from various departments (found here). Our streets are going to become more dangerous, more stressful, and more difficult to navigate. These cuts mean more people will be killed.
Nearly every department points out how these cuts will increase liability risk to the city, with worse maintenance across all categories of our streets; from pavement, to lighting, to signage. Many departments will also lose staffing that specifically manages liability, such as a 44% cut to LADOT’s department of risk management. These are ironic considering liability payouts are responsible for a significant part of our budget shortfall (and, this year, we’ll spend more on payouts to people hurt in our streets than making the streets safer).
This is what Angelenos can expect:
Los Angeles Department of Transportation
No new projects. With ⅓ of LADOT’s staff having been laid off between last year and this year’s proposed budget, LADOT is unlikely to initiate any new projects, and will only react to emergencies or very basic maintenance.
Congestion will increase. A 43% cut to ATSAC/ATSA staffing, the team that runs LA’s traffic signals, means more outages and worse response to traffic spikes.
$1.8 Billion in grants at risk. With a 38% cut to Project Delivery staffing the department will not be able to execute on many grant funded projects, likely meaning the City needs to reimburse won grants – costing us money and leading to more dangerous streets.
Jeopardizing Olympic projects. Cuts to Project Delivery mean that the department will not be able to support Metro’s rail and bus initiatives - putting many 2028 transportation projects at risk.
Less paint and signs. With a 34% cut to the Traffic Paint & Sign budget fewer streets will have upgraded striping and broken signage will be fixed more slowly. This is after last year’s reduction which left our City unable to afford green paint for bike lanes.
No progress on Vision Zero. LADOT will not be able to effectuate any of the recommendations in the external audit report; while the core Vision Zero budget isn’t being cut, the improvements on our streets that would save lives rely on the project delivery and outreach teams – both of which are facing huge layoffs.
Hardly any 311 responses. Given the massive cuts to district operations, it’s unlikely LADOT will be able to respond to 311 requests; they will also have a skeleton staff to respond to parking violation complaints that make our streets more dangerous.
No capacity for automated enforcement. Streets For All fought hard for AB-645 two years ago, legalizing a speed camera pilot in several cities including Los Angeles. Cuts to LADOT’s parking adjudication staff will mean they will likely be unable to process automated speed camera tickets and the bus lanes ticketing program.
Fewer crossing guards and no Ciclavia. With limited options to balance their budget and preserve core services, LADOT is looking at cutting the number of crossing guards and repurposing their open streets budget which supports programs like Ciclavia.
Bureau of Street Services
Broken streets and sidewalks. With 30% of BSS staffing cut in the last two years the quality of roads and sidewalks will collapse. Los Angeles already ranks as the 3rd worst road quality in the nation of major cities. Less than half of the necessary repaving required to keep city streets in good repair will be completed next year.
More potholes. 55 positions cut in Street Maintenance mean less street sweeping and less emergency street repairs. Pothole repair times will increase 30%.
Fewer open streets and Ciclavias. With an 83% staff reduction of the Investigation and Enforcement Division, StreetsLA will be unable to facilitate street closure events like block parties or CicLAvia.
More sidewalk obstructions. The Investigation and Enforcement Division is also responsible for investigating violations of ADA. Last year they fielded on average 160 MyLA311 requests per day. ADA violation response times will go from 3 days to 56 days.
Fewer new bus stops. Six positions cut to the Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program (STAP) means that fewer vital transit shelters will be installed. This is especially shortsighted considering this program generates revenue with advertising and pays for itself.
Bureau of Street Lighting
Streetlight outage responses halted until 2027. Cuts to the Bureau of Street Lighting mean that the department is forced to prioritize contracted DWP projects over repairs or risk cutting over 100 positions. The current average of 8 months to repair streetlights will effectively go to zero for the next fiscal year. Dusk and night continue to be the most dangerous time of day to travel on our streets, and fewer streetlights will lead to more crashes. This is especially difficult given the rise of copper theft, increasing the rate of inoperable street lights.
Department of City Planning
Cuts to all planning work on Measure HLA. The planning department will remove all roles responsible for managing HLA implementation, opening the City up to increased litigation risk.
Bureau of Engineering
Mobility capital projects cut by 33%. The Bureau of Engineering provides support and execution on significant mobility plan projects. Cuts to this department mean fewer projects being finished at a time when our city needs them most.
There are only TWO opportunities to comment on the Mayor’s proposed budget, and they are both in person:
APRIL 25, 2025 at 1pm
Van Nuys City Hall
14410 Sylvian Street
Van Nuys, CA 91401
APRIL 28, 2025 at 4pm
City Hall Council Chamber, Room 340
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
See our call to action here.