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In addition to yesterday’s big news that Metro is restoring bus service, there were plenty of other actions taken by the Metro Board of Directors. Below are six takeaways from from the January 28 Metro Board of Directors meeting.
New Boardmembers: Holly Mitchell and Tim Sandoval
Yesterday’s meeting was the first for two new boardmembers: L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval. Mitchell replaced termed-out County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was elected to the L.A. City Council. Mitchell, formerly a state legislator, is a longtime community leader who prioritizes ending homelessness, reforming the criminal justice system, expanding healthcare, and furthering environmental justice. In her brief introductory remarks,
This article supported by Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney as part of a general sponsorship package. All opinions in the article are that of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of LABA. Click on the ad for more information.
It’s not the prettiest or most welcoming walk/bike facility in Burbank, but Caltrans and Metro recently opened a new pedestrian bridge near Providencia Avenue in downtown Burbank. The facility does not cross the 5 Freeway, but hugs the side of the 5 while crossing railroad tracks.
The bike/ped crossing is part of Metro and Caltrans’ $1.3+ billion widening of the North 5 Freeway. That project is five years late and millions over budget. Though earlier Metro had refused to pay cost overruns that Caltrans is on the hook for, next week the Metro board Construction Committee will vote on a staff recommendation (page 12) to approve Metro paying an additional $73.2 million for the mega-project.
This article supported by Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney as part of a general sponsorship package. All opinions in the article are that of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of LABA. Click on the ad for more information.
Cities are frequently supportive of closing street access to limit car traffic in well-off neighborhoods. Similar treatments could be used to create walk/bike-friendly streets – often called bike boulevards or neighborhood greenways. But, in a pernicious double standard, when bicyclists and pedestrians request these sorts of facilities, city leaders turn them down because they don’t want to divert drivers.