The Los Angeles City Council approved a 20-year mobility plan Tuesday aimed at encouraging Angelenos to walk, bike or use public transportation when getting around the city. Lankershim, Sunset and Venice Boulevards would receive bus-only lanes and protected bike lanes. “Los Angeles is a city strongly addicted to the automobile, but we have to make some of our streets with pedestrian safety in mind”. “Mobility Plan 2035 does just that”, Huizar said in a statement. “But the long-term benefits outweigh the impacts”.
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It also plans to connect neighborhoods with a Complete Streets approach to safety improvements, which focuses on making streets safe and convenient for all modes of transportation, according to Councilman Mike Bonin and Councilman José Huizar, who led the efforts for the plan. Some council members, including Gil Cedillo, expressed concern that not enough public input was gathered before the plan was presented to the City Council.
Backers say the measure of success is moving more people, not necessarily more cars. “Mobility 2035 is a forward thinking vision for our city that will make Los Angeles a better place to live and work and enjoy”. The proposal will be reviewed by the City Council on August 11. Each specific project and street enhancement will additionally have its own public participation and approval process.
“Mobility Plan 2035 aims to give people choices”, said Seleta Reynolds, General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. By taking steps to reduce traffic speeds the plan would help to save lives he explains, “Right now, only 5% of those hit by a vehicle going 20 miles per hour die”. It may not be ideal… but it’s moving us in a direction that we need to move as a city.
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“The City of Los Angeles is leading the way in providing safe and cutting edge transportation options for our citizens”, said Michael LoGrande, General Manager of the City Planning Department.
