By the end of May, the City of Los Angeles expects to complete a $1.8-million streetscape improvement project in Mar Vista that will make Venice Boulevard safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

The project, which is being implemented through Mayor Eric Garcetti's Great Streets Initiative, will upgrade a nearly one-mile stretch of Venice between Inglewood Boulevard and Beethoven Street.  The list of improvements includes:

New signalized crosswalks

The new pedestrian crossings will be located at Mountain View Avenue, Ocean View Avenue, Boise Street and Meier Street.

Protected and buffered bike lanes

Venice is being redesigned to include a new curbside bike lane from automobile traffic by a painted buffer zone with bollards and a parking lane.

HIgh-visibility crosswalks and pedestrian head starts

All existing intersections will be restriped with "zebra" crossings.  Pedestrians will also receive a walk signal a few seconds prior to drivers receiving a green light.

These changes build upon follows ongoing improvements to Venice, including new bike racks, trash cans and outdoor seating.

The new crossings and protected bike lanes are intended to address the high injury rate along this segment of Venice Boulevard, which surpasses that of similar streets throughout the city.  According to the Great Streets website, there have been 48 pedestrians and cyclists injured along the corridor since 2011.