Bike Plan Followup!

Had just heard about this on NPR.

http://www.metro.net/news_info/press/metro_037.htm - press release

Quote

March 12 , 2008
Contact: Rick Jager/Marc Littman
Metro Media Relations
213.922.2707/922.4609
www.metro.net/pressroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metro Releases Draft 2008 Long Range Transportation Plan for 45-Day Public Review; Seven Community Meetings Planned in March and April

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today released for public comment its draft 2008 Long Range Transportation Plan, a 25-year blueprint for transportation planning in Los Angeles County through the Year 2030.

“This draft plan is both a vision and a call to action,” said Metro CEO Roger Snoble. “Simply put, we can fulfill the vision of developing a transportation system for the 21st Century if we act now to come up with creative ways of generating new revenues to fund future needs. The public’s input is crucial as we imagine our future together.”

The draft plan charts what transportation improvements are necessary to keep Los Angeles County moving to the year 2030 and once adopted by Metro’s Board of Directors later this year, will establish priorities for funding a balanced transportation system.

The plan addresses transportation needs throughout the County, such as closing gaps in the freeway carpool lane network, expanding Metro Rail and bus service, improving major street capacity and speeds, bicycle and pedestrian improvements and rideshare opportunities, just to name a few of the initiatives that together go a long way at reducing congestion.

Metro has been noted by the Texas Transportation Institute and CALPIRG for its past and current efforts at tackling traffic congestion, reducing local energy consumption and air pollution. The draft Long Range Transportation Plan would further those gains but Snoble noted that funding for most of the new highway and public transportation projects is lacking.

“With Sacramento and Washington caught in a budget squeeze, we have to come up with new revenue on the local level if we are to implement this critical plan,” Snoble said. “As the public reviews the draft plan, we encourage them to consider that need and express their opinions.” He noted that Metro this Spring would facilitate that discussion by offering more information about various options on metro.net.

The public can request copies of the draft plan and request additional information by calling the Long Range Transportation Plan Hotline at (213) 922-2833 or visit Metro’s web site at www.metro.net/longrangeplan. Copies also are available in the Records Management office on the plaza level at Metro’s headquarters building, One Gateway Plaza next to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Business hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those unable to attend the community meetings can e-mail their comments to metroplan@metro.net or write their comments, to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Countywide Planning & Develo p.m.ent, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-23-2, Los Angeles, Ca 90012 Attn: Robert Cálix. All comments need to be postmarked and submitted by April 25. Following the public comment period the Metro Board will consider adoption of the Long Range Transportation Plan in June.

The following are community meetings to be held in March and April during the 45-day public review period on Metro’s draft 2008 Long Range Transportation Plan.

March 26, 2008: 6:30 p.m., Westside Cities, Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Bl, West Hollywood, CA 90046
March 27, 2008: 6:30 p.m. Central Los Angeles, Metro Headquarters, One Gateway Plaza, Board Room – 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012
April 3, 2008: 6 p.m., South Bay Cities, Carson Community Center, Room 107, 801 East Carson Street Carson, CA 90745
April 8, 2008: 6 p.m., San Gabriel Valley, Potrero Heights Elementary School, 8026 East Hill Dr, Rosemead, CA 91770
April 10, 2008: 6 p.m., Gateway Cities, Progress Park Plaza West, 15500 Downey Av, Paramount, CA 90723
April 22, 2008: 6:30 p.m., North Los Angeles County, Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, Lilac Room – 1st Floor, 38350 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550
April 23, 2008: 6 p.m., San Fernando Valley, Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center, Room 1B, 6262 Van Nuys Bl, Van Nuys, CA 91401

From the plan (http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/images/2008_draft_lrtp.pdf), "According to SCAG’s State of the Commute report, 21 percent of commute trips are ﬁve miles or less. National survey results state that three out of four shopping trips are less than ﬁve miles in length, 37 percent of students live less than a mile from school, and 20 to 25 percent of all peak-hour congestion is the result of parents driving their children to and from school. These are trips that can easily be made by bicycle if safe conditions exist."

I haven't read through the whole plan yet, but it seems that they recognize the role that bicycling can play in easing traffic congestion. So it would seem that they would probably be receptive to input on how to improve L.A.'s friendliness to bicycling.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hymon25feb25,1,6716830.story is an interesting story that talks about the traffic situation here in LA, and particularly the Westside. From the article, "'If you design streets for traffic, you'll get lots of traffic,' said Chris Morfas, an analyst for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, which is pushing for innovative ways to reduce smog. 'If you design streets for people, you'll get people.'" Naturally, that statement should be amended to include bicycles.

For the community meetings mentioned above, it would be probably advantageous to have the bicycling community represented hopefully with end result of a city that's conducive to commuting by bicycles. Are there currently rides or events being planned for these meetings?

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p.s. does anyone else find this an ominous sign? http://www.metro.net/second_level/bikeway_planning/ (broken link from http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/ under "Transit Projects -> Bicycle Planning."