CTC Approves $6.4M for SWA-Designed Ballona Creek Bike Path Extension

This summer, the Ballona Creek Bike Path Extension—a long-anticipated project to close a decades-old gap in Los Angeles’s seven-mile bikeway and pedestrian corridor—secured $6.4 million in funding from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in a unanimous vote.

Designed by SWA in partnership with nonprofit advocacy organization Streets For All, the project will extend the path nearly two miles to the east to Venice and Cochran, getting people from Mid City to West LA and the beach on a car-free path. Combined with prior commitments from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the City of Los Angeles, and the City of Culver City, a total of $7 million has now been secured to advance environmental clearance and technical design work, bringing the project to shovel-ready status.

“I learned to ride a bicycle on the Ballona Creek bike path when I was five years old, so the creek has a special place in my heart,” said Michael Schneider, Founder and CEO of Streets For All. “Advocacy is very hard, and I’m proud that we were able to raise money and start a process that led to a $7M project.”

The effort to advance the extension began in late 2022, when Streets For All initiated a feasibility study with funding from the City of Los Angeles, County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, the City of Culver City, and the Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy. Delivered to the City of Los Angeles in late 2023, the study confirmed strong public support and outlined the mobility, social, and environmental benefits of the project. Following its completion, the City of Los Angeles—with support from Councilwoman Heather Hutt—worked with SWA and Streets For All on the grant application that ultimately secured the CTC funding.

“For SWA, this is a dream project a long time in the making,” said Gerdo Aquino, Co-CEO of SWA. “We jumped at the chance to work with Streets For All and see how we can actually make this happen—surveying the site, talking to the community, and mapping out safe connections.”

“The Ballona Creek is an unpolished gem, and I was happy to support the early effort which got us to a $7M project today; the path extension will be a huge benefit to CD10 residents and allow them to get around car-free,” said Heather Hutt, Councilwoman for the 10th District.

With design and permitting now underway, the team’s focus shifts to identifying construction funding. Once complete, the Ballona Creek Pathway Extension will open new safe routes for students, commuters, and families, while unlocking the untapped potential of the creek as a shared civic space.

Related facts:

The Ballona Creek watershed spans roughly 128 square miles and includes parts of Los Angeles, Culver City, Inglewood, West Hollywood, and unincorporated Los Angeles County. The original segment of the Ballona Creek Bike Path, built in the 1970s, runs from Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City to the Santa Monica Bay.

In addition to extending the Ballona Creek Bike Path, Streets for All is working on two related projects: 1. Installation of solar lighting along the length of the Ballona Creek Bike Path; and 2. Building bike paths along both the Centinela Creek and the Sepulveda Creek that would each connect to the Ballona Creek Bike Path.