LA community considers infrastructure overhaul prioritizing underground utilities
The Pacific Palisades Community Council is set to consider a resolution urging Los Angeles officials to prioritize underground utility infrastructure as rebuilding continues following the 2025 Palisades Fire, Palisades News reported.
The proposal calls on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to develop a comprehensive master infrastructure plan for the neighborhood, with a focus on undergrounding power and utility systems to improve fire resilience, public safety and long-term insurability. Council infrastructure committee members said LADWP has indicated that undergrounding utilities across the Palisades is feasible and that early outreach efforts are already underway.
As part of the proposed plan, the council will consider requesting a temporary pause of at least one year on new street tree planting in residential areas. Supporters say delaying tree installation would prevent conflicts with future underground utility construction, transformer placement and related right-of-way work as rebuilding progresses.
The resolution also calls for a broader redesign of above-ground infrastructure, including replacement of wooden utility poles with metal poles where feasible and greater use of integrated “stealth” streetlight designs to accommodate wireless telecommunications equipment. According to Palisades News, the proposal encourages placing transformers and other equipment underground wherever possible, or within public rights-of-way if subsurface installation is not feasible, rather than on private property.
If adopted, the measure would urge the city to update existing above-ground facilities regulations as needed to support the infrastructure transition. LADWP has indicated that development and implementation of a master infrastructure plan could take at least one year, with supporters arguing early coordination is essential to align rebuilding efforts with long-term underground infrastructure and resilience goals.
Related News
From Archive
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- LA recovery reports call for $650 million power line burial, major utility upgrades in Pacific Palisades
- Comprehensive microtrenching FAQ: Key insights on the Vermeer MTR516 microtrencher
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
Comments