Hollywood Bowl Street Closures
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (LAPA) operates the Hollywood Bowl venue through a 30 year long term operating lease agreement with the County of Los Angeles (current lease expires June 30, 2034). On average, LAPA operates the Hollywood Bowl from April to November each year and puts on 110+ concerts each season that brings over 1 million people to the venue and generates about $72 million in revenues. About 35% (38 out of 110) of the concerts at the Hollywood Bowl are ‘leased’ events by LAPA to other groups like Live Nation Hewitt Silva, but LAPA remains responsible for operating the Hollywood Bowl (including parking and traffic management) during these leased events.
These ‘leased’ events fill the 17,500 seat venue with many new customers that are not familiar with the transportation demand management programs (like the park and ride locations) that are offered by LAPA. The increase in cars begin to overwhelm the local neighborhood streets in Outpost Estates, Hollywood Heights, Cahuenga Pass, Whitley Heights, Hollywood Knolls, and Hollywood Dell. Background and context of the issue are outlined here.
Many recall the 2021 Hollywood Bowl Grateful Dead concert where there were significant traffic, trash and other issues. Pictures of the traffic on the small Hollywood Hills neighborhood streets that prevent fire trucks and ambulances from getting through the traffic are pictures below for reference.
Picture taken on Outpost Drive on October 23, 2021 at 5:44pm during a Hollywood Bowl concert. Traffic was at a standstill for 3 hours with continued heavy traffic late into the evening. During this day, there was a leased show at the Hollywood Bowl for “We Can Survive” that started at 6:30pm.
In an effort to ease cut through traffic on local neighborhood streets that aren’t built for heavy traffic during Hollywood Bowl events and keep traffic on the more major thoroughfares like Highland Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard, and Franklin Avenue, LAPA coordinates hard street closures on nights when two of the three criteria are met:
More than 10,000 attendees are expected at a concert;
Concert is on a weekday;
Heavy rideshare usage is expected at a concert.
Hard street closures mean no cars may pass on that street except emergency vehicles. The hard street closures are set up at the intersections of Highland Avenue and Milner Road (to avoid pass through traffic in Whitley Heights) and Camrose Drive (to avoid pass through traffic in Hollywood Heights and Outpost Estates). With the hard street closures, wayfinding apps no longer route drivers through the neighborhoods when the hard street closures are in effect.
Hard street closures are subject to change and generally end one hour after the concert ends, which is typically 11pm (or 10:30pm on a Sunday).
Neighbors that live on Milner Road and Camrose Drive are able to access their properties during the hard street closures by accessing Milner Road from Whitley Terrace and by accessing Camrose Drive from Hillcrest Road.
🚗 Resident Vehicle Access Passes: What They Do (and Don't Do)
Each season, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (LAPA) produces Resident Vehicle Access Passes for neighbors. These passes are frequently misunderstood, so here is what they actually mean:
The pass does not grant access through hard street closures. The placard itself states that the bearer is "entitled to street access only," that it is "not applicable for street closures," and that it is "not a parking permit." At the hard street closures on Camrose Drive and Milner Road, no vehicle except emergency vehicles may pass under California law — pass or no pass.
On all other neighborhood streets, no pass is needed. Where there is no hard closure, anyone may drive through. Any traffic officers stationed at those intersections serve as a deterrent to discourage cut-through traffic; they are not permitted to block residents or other drivers.
The pass carries no official access either way. If you would still like one to keep in your vehicle, you may download and print the pass here.
Bottom Line: The Resident Vehicle Access Pass is optional and grants no special access at any closure. The reliable way to reach home during hard closures is via the alternate routes noted above — Hillcrest Road for Camrose Drive, Whitley Terrace for Milner Road.
The Resident Vehicle Access Pass is optional and grants no special access at any closure. If you would still like one to keep in your vehicle for sentimental reasons, you may download and print the pass here.
Picture taken on La Presa Drive during Hollywood Bowl concerts. Neighbors on this street report that it is very hard, if not impossible, to get an ambulance or fire truck through during an emergency.
Picture taken on Sycamore Trail during Hollywood Bowl Events. Neighbors report it is very hard, if not impossible, to get an ambulance or fire truck through during an emergency
Outpost Neighborhood Association participates in the Hollywood Bowl Community Advisory Board that meets with LAPA and other neighborhood groups surrounding the Hollywood Bowl to address traffic and other issues resulting from LAPA Hollywood Bowl Operations.
