Beyond Mobility: SCAG's Road Map for the Future
SCAG'S
Draft Regional Transportation Plan Outlines the Southland's Future
Mobility and Further Envisions Housing and Land Use Policies Designed to
Promote Sustainable Communities.By Tim WhyteInterchange EditorWith apologies to the memories of Oldsmobile, this is not your father’s 
transportation plan: The Southern California Association of Governments
has released its Draft 2012 Regional Transportation Plan and
Sustainable Communities Strategy for public review, and the new plan
goes well beyond plotting new roads and bus service. It’s the
“Sustainable Communities Strategy” part of it that represents the 21st
century approach to transportation planning. This RTP not only tackles
issues of mobility, but also recognizes that mobility is intertwined
with other issues that impact quality of life, including land use,
housing and environmental quality. All of it is wrapped up in a
package designed to promote sustainability — communities that will be
livable both in the short term… [+] read more
Beyond Mobility: SCAG's Road Map for the Future
SCAG'S
Draft Regional Transportation Plan Outlines the Southland's Future
Mobility and Further Envisions Housing and Land Use Policies Designed to
Promote Sustainable Communities.By Tim WhyteInterchange EditorWith apologies to the memories of Oldsmobile, this is not your father’s
transportation plan: The Southern California Association of Governments
has released its Draft 2012 Regional Transportation Plan and
Sustainable Communities Strategy for public review, and the new plan
goes well beyond plotting new roads and bus service. It’s the
“Sustainable Communities Strategy” part of it that represents the 21st
century approach to transportation planning. This RTP not only tackles
issues of mobility, but also recognizes that mobility is intertwined
with other issues that impact quality of life, including land use,
housing and environmental quality. All of it is wrapped up in a
package designed to promote sustainability — communities that will be
livable both in the short term and the long one. SCAG, the
nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, represents six
counties, 191 cities and more than 18 million residents, including
everyone who calls northern Los Angeles County home. The
organization released the draft RTP in November, and as of Interchange
press time the draft is undergoing a series of public review workshops
designed to gather citizen input before the plan is finalized later this
year. SCAG is required by law to update the Southern California Regional Transportation Plan every four years. “The
2012 draft plan differs from past plans because it includes development
of a Sustainable Communities Strategy,” SCAG said in a prepared
statement announcing the 230-page plan’s release. “The RTP/SCS
incorporates land-use and housing policies to meet the greenhouse gas
emissions targets established by the California Air Resource Board
(CARB) for 2020 (8 percent reduction) and 2035 (13 percent reduction).” The
draft plan presents housing and transportation options that encourage
creation and revitalization of communities that are bike and pedestrian
friendly, affordable and sustainable. “This will result in
people spending less time in their cars and thereby reducing traffic
congestion and pollution and benefitting from a healthier
environment,” SCAG’s statement said. SCAG President and Santa Monica City Council Member Pam O’Connor said the plan is a transformative one. “California
has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation with 2.1 million
unemployed,” O’Connor said. “This plan proposes solid investment in
transportation projects that aids in stimulating the economy with the
creation of between 150,000 to 180,000 jobs annually. In addition, it
capitalizes on Southern California’s position as the nation’s
international trade and manufacturing center.” So, what does all this mean for the Interstate 5 North Los Angeles County Improvement Project? Victor
Lindenheim, the Coalition’s executive director, said the most important
thing for the Coalition to monitor is any possible impacts the plan
could have on the timing of funding for the I-5 project. “The
Gateway Coalition’s challenge will be to ensure that the funds committed
to the I-5 project in north L.A. County are available when they are
needed,” Lindenheim said. “For the second phase of the project, the new
carpool lanes and existing pavement rehabilitation, that means the money
needs to be there in 2014, when construction is scheduled to begin.” [-]
Caltrans I-5 Info OnlineCaltrans has created an interesting and informative website, www.i-5info.com,
to provide the public with information about improvements being made to
the Interstate 5 corridor in northern Los Angeles County. Check it out! www.i-5info.com
Golden State Gateway Coalition:Who We Are and What We Do
The Golden State Gateway Coalition (I-5)
is a non-profit transportation education and advocacy organization
based in Santa Clarita.
- Our members include community, business and government leaders who live in, work in and represent the
interests of the fastest growing sub-region in Los Angeles County.
- Our
goal is to improve roadway mobility, safety and goods movement throughout northern Los Angeles County.
- The Interstate 5 corridor is our
priority. It is an important regional transportation
facility and is a key
economic lifeline linking job centers, cities, ports, agriculture, and
tourist attractions throughout California.
|
The Golden State Gateway Coalition has released the Spring 2012 edition of its newsletter, Interchange. The newsletter is published quarterly and
provides current information on north Los Angeles County transportation matters,
emphasizing roadway improvements and the Coalition's priority: the Interstate 5
corridor. The 12-page newsletter is designed to be easy to download and print, providing a portable… [more]
Truck Lanes Coming Soon!
The
Interstate 5 Gateway Improvement Project Is Transitioning from Concept
to Reality: Carpool Lanes Are Being Designed and the Truck Lanes Are
Scheduled to Start Construction Later This Year.
By Tim Whyte
Interchange Editor
It’s a model of public-private, multi-agency cooperation, and… [more]
Top Ten Reasons to Support Improvements to Interstate 5
The Golden State Gateway Coalition believes there are many great reasons to favor I-5 improvements in Northern Los Angeles County, and these are the Top 10. We take a closer look at one of them in each edition of our newsletter:
1. Relieve congestion and improve mobility (Spring 2008)
2. Public safety (Summer-Fall 2009)
3. To facilitate goods movement (Winter 2008)
4. Jobs and economic development (Winter 2009)
5. CURRENT ISSUE: To accommodate growth in commerce and population (Spring 2011)
6. Air quality and pollution abatement (Spring 2009)
7. Energy conservation (Summer 2008)
8. Homeland security and strategic importance (Winter 2010)
9. Facilitate access to basic services: health care, education, police and
fire department (Summer 2010)
10. Improve the quality of life for Californians and everyone who uses the I-5
Go to archived articles.
|
