April 2026

April 2026

April is a pivotal month in South Pasadena. The city is on the cusp of a big decision for the Fremont/Huntington Corridor, Arroyo Vista families are asking for support as they seek safety improvements, and we found a fun film recommendation. Read on!

👀Big Developments in the Fremont/Huntington Corridor Improvement Project

Since February, South Pasadena and engineering firm Kimley-Horn have hosted three community meetings on the Fremont/Huntington Corridor Improvement Project. Turnout has been strong at every session, and the discussions have been lively and substantive.

As we shared in our February newsletter, the first meeting included design options that ignored the consensus reached through the 2023 community process led by Toole Design Group. Among them was a sharrow on a 30-mph street and a painted bike lane immediately adjacent to 40-mph traffic. No reasonable person would feel safe using these designs.

We decided to show rather than tell. We organized a demonstration ride on Fremont Avenue, riding as if one of those proposed designs had already been built. The experience was exactly as uncomfortable as you'd expect.

The good news is that city leadership and the Kimley-Horn engineering design team have listened and responded in a meaningful way. The unprotected bike lane options have been removed from consideration entirely. That alone is a significant step forward.

Even more encouraging: the City has acknowledged that rebuilding Fremont and Huntington to the standard our community deserves will cost more than the existing Metro grant covers. Rather than downgrading the design, the City is actively exploring reallocating funding from another Metro grant to fill the gap and build these streets right. That is true leadership from our city!

As we have long said, bad roads are not neutral — they are obstacles. They prevent seniors from crossing the street. They keep children from riding to school. Thanks to your help, this city is very close to rebuilding two major streets to better serve South Pasadena for generations and connect to protected bike lanes in Pasadena and Los Angeles.

But we are not done yet. Two critical City Council meetings are coming up that will define the final design for these corridors. Please consider submitting comments for the April 15th Council Study Session and the final decision in May (see below).

We are also hoping the city hears from students at SPHS and SPMS. Students once led a petition to ask the city to allocate more grant money into active transportation. They collected over 500 signatures! The investment being considered now is about 50x larger and directly benefits students.

📣 Call to Action: Support Arroyo Vista Families

Families at Arroyo Vista Elementary are asking the City for safety improvements near their school, and they need our support. Watch their story here, and join them at the April 15th City Council meeting to add your voice.

Families have reported repeated near-misses involving children. The recent escalation—a child being struck at Indiana & El Centro—is a wake-up call. The city has already responded to some safety requests, which is commendable. However, more can be done. Families are asking for:

• A crossing guard at Indiana & El Centro.

• Full implementation of the state "daylighting" law, which requires painting curbs red near intersections to make it easier to see pedestrians.

• Permanent removal of parking on the south side of Hawthorne St.

• Installation of a raised crosswalk as a long-term traffic calming solution.

You can support them by emailing a public comment before 12pm on Wednesday or showing up at the Council meeting on Wednesday at 7pm.

🎬 Did You Know? "Bike Revolution" and the SGV

Here's something fun: the director of The Blair Witch Project helped make a documentary about active transportation advocacy in the San Gabriel Valley. Bike Revolution tours cities in the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles, including appearances by friends at Active SGV (then known as Bike SGV). It's a compelling portrait of what grassroots advocacy can accomplish — and a reminder that this movement has deep roots right here in our backyard. Watch it on YouTube.

📅 Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 15th, 6pm — SP City Council Study Session A public meeting to review the design and funding plans for the Fremont/Huntington Corridor Improvement Project. Come in person or submit comments in advance.

Wednesday, April 15th, 7pm — SP City Council Regular Meeting Join Arroyo Vista families as they ask the City Council for further safety measures near their school.

Saturday, May 2nd, 1–4pm — Sustainability Fair at South Pasadena Arroyo Seco Nature Park (rescheduled from April) We will be providing bike valet service at this year's Sustainability Fair! Skip the traffic, ride over, and we'll keep an eye on your bike while you enjoy the festivities.

Friday–Saturday, May 2–3 — Finish the Ride & Run at Griffith Park A fun event from Streets Are for Everyone, advocates for safe, active transportation throughout greater Los Angeles.

Wednesday, May 6th, 7pm (likely) — SP City Council Regular Meeting This is expected to be the meeting where the Fremont/Huntington construction plan is formally approved. We will share updates as the agenda is confirmed — stay tuned.

We are a 100% volunteer-led organization and we can use your help with advocacy, events, and outreach. Fill out the volunteer form on our home page or email us at info@southpasactive.org to chip in.

If you are reading this on our web site, you can subscribe for future updates by sending an email to southpasactive+subscribe@googlegroups.com.

Stay Active,

Your friends at South Pas Active