DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES LAUNCHES WAY-FINDING PROGRAM

1,300 SIGNS TO GRACE THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS OF DOWNTOWN

Los Angeles (April 26, 2005) - Local government and business leaders gathered in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall this morning to launch a "way-finding" program designed to help pedestrians and motorists more easily navigate through the greater Downtown Los Angeles area.

The program, which is the nation's largest, is entitled "Downtown LA Walks" and consists of more than 1,300 signs adorning the streets and sidewalks of Downtown Los Angeles. The signs serve to highlight and unify Downtown's thirteen districts as well as encourage walking and public transportation.

The launch ceremony was highlighted by Los Angeles Councilmembers Jan Perry and Bernard Parks, and Downtown Center Business Improvement (DCBID) President and CEO Carol Schatz, unveiling the first installed signs located at Grand Avenue and First Street. The rest of the signs will be installed over the next three months.

"This icon driven system will have the effect of transforming Downtown into a user-friendly series of neighborhoods," said Councilwoman Perry. "This will help both visitors and residents fully enjoy all that Downtown has to offer. The program's success is the direct result of incredible teamwork from many different government and business organizations. Together, we are crystallizing the position that Downtown LA holds as the major business, tourist and residential destination in the U.S."

The Downtown LA Walks program is the culmination of an effort driven by the Confederation of Downtown Associations, a group of nine Downtown area business improvement districts, with additional oversight provided by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), and the Community Redevelopment Agency. At a cost of more than $2 million, the majority of the funding, nearly 70 percent, was contributed by Metro through two separate Call for Project awards in 1999 and 2001. The remaining amount was funded by the individual members of the Confederation and LADOT.

The Confederation of Downtown Associations was originally formed in 1993 with a unifying goal of improving the quality of life for residents, workers and tourists in the Downtown area. The idea for a way-finding signage program, similar to Philadelphia's renowned Freedom Walk, was quickly produced followed by an action plan to bring it to fruition. Urban Place Consulting Group Inc. was hired soon after to manage the project, which will be completed in August 2005.

The 1,300 aluminum signs that will comprise the Downtown LA Walks program will all have a distinct look and feel that blends in well with the architecture and style of the Downtown area. Each of the thirteen districts has its own logo and color which will be used on three different types of signs. For motorists, there will be large-font text signs that point out directions to the different districts, major attractions, freeway entrances, and other areas of interest. Meanwhile, text signs as well as colorful maps will provide pedestrians with directions and walking routes for Metro Red Line subway stations, public offices, historical points of interest, and frequently visited destinations.

The general boundaries of the installation area are roughly bordered by Chinatown to the north, Santa Fe Avenue to the east, the 10 Freeway to the south. The Figueroa Street corridor between the 110 Freeway and Martin Luther King Boulevard is also included.

"These beautiful signs will direct people from district to district all over the Downtown area and represent another significant milestone in the renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles," said the DCBID's Schatz, who also served as emcee of the unveiling ceremony. "Downtown LA has long been the area's central business center, and now it is a true metropolis where people live, work, shop and play. This program makes living, working and playing in LA even more enjoyable."

Approximately 112,000 people use public transit daily to access their jobs or circulate in Downtown. With all major Metro facilities highlighted on the signs, including the popular Metro Red Line subway, more people will now be able to connect between Downtown destinations using the Metro system.

"The inclusion of Metro facilities on these signs will help extend the influence of public transit throughout Downtown," said James De La Loza, Chief Planning Officer, Countywide Planning and Development, Metro. "The signs will provide pedestrians with a greater level of confidence to navigate a broader radius of Downtown, knowing the Metro system is readily available in case they get lost."

Further supporting this effort is the creation of www.downtownlawalks.com, which is a website that includes information on walking and driving in the downtown area, as well as popular routes that can be downloaded and printed, and photos and maps to popular downtown attractions.

About the Confederation of Downtown Associations

The Confederation of Downtown Associations is a consortium of nine downtown area business improvement districts (BIDs), which are united in their commitment to enhance the quality of life in Downtown Los Angeles. The individual members include: Central City East (Industrial District and Toy District), Chinatown, Downtown Center, Fashion District, Figueroa Corridor, Historic Downtown, Little Tokyo, and South Park.