The I-5/SR-170 connector opened this morning and it’s looking pretty good.
South Pasadena receives funding for new bicycle amenities
Great news for cyclists from the City of South Pasadena: it was awarded more than $400,000 in Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) Grant funds to implement its Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). The grant was awarded to fund two high-profile projects from the city’s BMP: the Mission Street Green Sharrow Lane Project and the South Pasadena Bicycle Parking Project.
Here’s the rest of the press release from South Pasadena:
The Mission Street Green Sharrow Lane project is an enhanced class III bicycle facility that will be installed in the center of the right travel lane in both directions on Mission Street from Grand Avenue to Fair Oaks. In addition, bike boxes will be installed at certain intersections as a safety and mobility enhancement for cyclists.
The City’s Bicycle Parking project consists of installing 70 new bike racks, 10 bicycle lockers and 3 bicycle shelters at various locations throughout the City. Locations will include business areas/places of employment, transit stops, government buildings, parks and activity centers. Bike parking is an essential component to support bicycling as a viable mode of transportation. Just as cars need parking, bicycles also need a location to park safely and securely.
“These grant-funded projects will promote healthy, environmentally-friendly mobility options supporting the City’s goal of multi-modalism while maintaining the City’s small-town character. A transportation system that incorporates bicycling can lead to a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion and related auto emissions, while providing healthy lifestyle choices and improved economic vitality,” stated Mayor Schneider.
To find out more information about both projects and the City’s BMP, visit the City’s website. The BMP is also available at the City Clerk’s Office located at 1414 Mission Street and at the South Pasadena Public Library, 1100 Oxley Street.
Transportation headlines, Wednesday, May 8: Distance-based road usage, green ports, social media outreach, transit use and city usage
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.
Photo by Diyanski via Flickr
Advocates of distance-based road pricing look to Oregon (Road Pricing)
As vehicles become more fuel efficient, fuel tax revenues continue to shrink. That’s one of the reasons eyes are on Oregon, as it explores a distance-based road usage charging system for the state. The feds no doubt are watching, too. Here are the details.
L.A. is a leader in green ports, Mayor says (Los Angeles Times)
The world looks to L.A. for ways to reduce pollution, Mayor Villaraigosa said at a ports conference this week. He cites a modernization of the Port of L.A. and the state’s tough emissions law. He also could add Metro’s efforts to improve mobility to and from the ports by work on the I-5 and I-710 south, as well as the Alameda East Corridor. The story doesn’t mention it, so we will.
Public agencies lag behind in social media outreach (Transportation Issues Daily)
Social media is changing the way organizations engage with the public. And public agencies are not up-to-speed on conveying messages via mobile media. Okay. We buy that. Any suggestions for what Metro could do?
What public transit teaches us about how people use cities (The Atlantic: Cities)
Ridership is an identifyer of how and at what time people use — or don’t use — transit: whether movement is centralized, decentralized or has mutiple focal points. Three videos track travel patterns on public transit in San Francisco, Geneva and Zurich. Interesting to see Californians up and about before folks in two of the great European business centers. We can also see that at 1 and 2 a.m. it’s lights out in Zurich, while San Francisco is on the move. Wonder what L.A. would look like.
Kick off Bike Week with a Dodgers game day ride
Get ready to ride to the ball game! Photo from Eastside Bike Club Official Facebook
On Saturday, May 11, C.I.C.L.E., the Eastside Bike Club, Metro and the Dodgers will kick off Bike Week Los Angeles with a bicycle ride between two historic landmarks, Union Station and Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine, to watch the Dodgers battle the Miami Marlins.
Deck yourself (and your bike) out in Dodgers gear and meet up with fellow riders at the front of Union Station – that’s the Alameda side – at 2 p.m. The ride will leave promptly at 2:30 p.m. Those with tickets to the game will enjoy early access, a free, exclusive stadium tour, pre-game activities and more. Use the code METRO when purchasing tickets to the game and get an exclusive discount.
The ride is 3.5 miles each way, and keep in mind there’s a bit of a climb up to Dodger Stadium. Continue reading after the jump to see the full press release from C.I.C.L.E. and tips on what to bring for the game day bike ride.
Metro to receive more than $390 million to improve public transit and air quality
Excellent news for L.A. County this evening. Metro will receive funds to support a variety of notable projects. Here’s the release:
This week Metro was awarded more than $390 million from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) to support construction of new rail, upgrade existing transit service, buy much needed rail cars, repair and improve buses and create jobs. The money comes from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, Proposition 1A, the voter-approved High-Speed Rail Bond, and the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The High-Speed Rail Bond program targets some funds at connectivity with future high-Speed rail service. Metro used its Measure R funds, approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2008, to aid in leveraging state funding to Los Angeles County.
Projects benefiting from $390 million in state bond funds include $264 million for the Regional Connector project, which will improve connectivity county wide by linking Metro’s Blue, Expo and Gold lines via a 1.9-mile extension of light-rail tracks beneath downtown Los Angeles, and $61 million included in the current Life of Project for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor, an 8.5-mile light-rail line that will connect the Metro Green Line with the Metro Exposition Line and provide a link to LAX. Another portion of the funding — $45.4 million — will aid in the purchase of 78 light-rail vehicles for system-wide service expansion and for use on future light-rail lines that will open during the next few years. The state also released $19.9 million for Metro’s Bus Rehabilitation Program to repair and improve up to 321 buses.
“These funds will help us continue to expand and upgrade the Metro system,” said Metro CEO Art Leahy. “They are slotted for bus and rail projects that will work together to buy us improved mobility and move us closer to our goal of creating a 21st Century transit network for our region.”
The projects were included in the Metro Long Range Transportation Plan and were chosen because they already are underway and the new round of funding will ensure they stay on schedule.
The Caltrans funding comes from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, which is providing $3.6 billion over a 10-year period to improve public transit in California. To date, Proposition 1B has provided more than $2 billion in funding to approximately 750 transit projects statewide, with 340 completed.
Amgen Tour of California stops in Santa Clarita during Bike Week LA
Cyclists with Magic Mountain in the background. Photo from Santa Clarita Tour of CA 2013 Official Facebook
The City of Santa Clarita will be one of the host cities for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California next week, which also happens to be Bike Week LA. The city will be the site of the Stage 3 Finish on Tuesday, May 14, and the Stage 4 Start on Wednesday, May 15.
There will be a series of events to celebrate the bicycle race, including a viewing party at Salt Creek Grille, SENSES Rock the Bike, and Bike to Work Day. Don’t miss the Lifestyle Festival on Tuesday, May 14, which will take place at the Westfield Valencia Town Center at the corner of Citrus and Magic Mountain Parkway, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check Santa Clarita Transit for public transportation routes.
Traffic will be impacted on local roads during the course of the event, keep reading after the jump to see the details.
Transportation headlines, Tuesday, May 7: What does Mickey Mouse have to do with streetcars? Improved bike parking at Dodger Stadium? Does Foxx know enough to be transpo secretary?
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.
Is Mickey Mouse driving up costs of Anaheim streetcar? (Voice of OC)
The costs look to be higher than expected for the Anaheim streetcar project. Is this worthy of attention here in L.A.? Only if we’re considering a downtown streetcar project for our own.
Improved bike parking at Dodger Stadium: No home run yet (StreetsBlog LA)
One bicyclist cruised the scene looking for improved bike access and services and offers a little coaching. Perhaps better — at least for the moment — to take the Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station.
What does Anthony Foxx know and what should he know? (National Journal Transportation Experts Blog)
As mayor of a major city, the Transportation Secretary nominee Anthony Foxx obviously knows something about transportation issues. But is it enough for this time in history when a wrong step could be critical to public momentum in favor of mass transit? What should Foxx be fighting for in the administration and in Congress? What can he learn from LaHood’s experience? What do you think Foxx ought to know and push? And, finally, will it do any good?
