Allen Avenue Pedestrian Safety Work Underway Through June

Construction crews began work in January on pedestrian safety improvements along Allen Avenue between Walnut Street and Corson Street, a six-month project that makes permanent the infrastructure tested in a 2024 pilot and is expected to be completed by June. 

The project, with a construction contract of $1,493,456, managed by the city’s Department of Public Works, installs wider sidewalks north of Walnut Street, curb extensions and bulb-outs that shorten pedestrian crossing distances, a pedestrian hybrid beacon at Locust Street, and upgraded traffic signal hardware. The improvements serve Metro’s Allen Station, an elevated light rail stop in the Interstate 210 median that opened in 2003 and handles daily commuters, Pasadena City College students via shuttle connections, and crowds during the Rose Parade. 

Funded primarily through California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program—a state initiative that uses cap-and-trade auction proceeds to support transit access as a climate strategy—the project exemplifies how greenhouse gas reduction funding translates into local infrastructure changes. Additional funding comes from Metro’s 2018 Sustainable Communities Program and the city’s Traffic Reduction Fee, which requires new development to contribute toward transportation improvements. 

The improvements build on a temporary “Activate Allen Avenue” demonstration implemented in 2024 along a nearby stretch of the corridor, which tested buffered bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, and painted curb extensions using a $164,000 regional grant. 

The Allen Avenue corridor between Walnut and Corson streets experienced 17 bicycle-related and 10 pedestrian-related collisions between 2007 and 2016, according to city planning documents.

Sidewalk segments were documented as uneven with varied widths, and intersections were described as excessively wide, creating challenges for pedestrians and cyclists. 

“These enhancements will create a safer and more comfortable environment for pedestrians while supporting the City’s broader efforts to promote transit-oriented development and reduce reliance on cars,” according to a city statement announcing the project. 

The city awarded the construction contract to Alfaro Communications Construction Inc. for not-to-exceed $1,493,456 on June 12, 2025, after the City Council found the project categorically exempt from extensive environmental review in April 2025. The work involves minor alterations to existing public facilities and construction of limited new structures, qualifying for exemptions under state environmental law. 

Construction is phased to maintain one travel lane in each direction and ensure access to adjacent properties throughout the project, though motorists should expect temporary traffic impacts through June. The Department of Public Works is managing the construction with support from the Department of Transportation. 

The city has implemented similar pedestrian improvements at Lake Station and other Metro A Line locations. Allen Station sits elevated above North Allen Avenue in the Interstate 210 freeway median. The station is also designated Allen/College for its proximity to Pasadena City College. A Line trains operate approximately every eight minutes during peak hours from about 4:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily.

Greg de Vinck, who began as the city’s Public Works Director in December 2024, oversees a department with 273 full-time employees and a $93.5 million annual budget. He previously served as Public Works Director in San Gabriel for six years and worked 22 years with Santa Monica’s engineering division. 

Additional project information and construction updates are posted on the city’s Public Works webpage. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2026.