Los Angeles Mobility and Public Transit Updates
Mobility Plan 2035
Growing population, increased development, and a commitment to host the 2028 Summer Olympics has led to many Los Angeles lawmakers to push for a modernized transportation system. The current system lags behind other cities in both infrastructure and reach, and the city hopes to change that by designing a system of transit that accommodates all users in one of the most diverse cities in the world. The Mobility Plan 2035 is one aspect of Los Angeles’ general plan that aims to prioritize five main ideas:
- Safety First: Focusing on safety, education, and enforcement
- Access for all Angelenos: Increasing access through greater community connections
- World Class Infrastructure: Investing in the construction of Complete Streets Networks
- Collaboration, Communications, and Informed Choices: Using open data and information to inform future policy considerations
- Clean Environment & Healthy Communities: Tackling issues related to the overall health and sustainability of Los Angeles’ neighborhoods
If accomplished, these five ideas would allow Los Angeles to be home to one of the world’s most sophisticated, up-to-date public transportation systems. It is especially important that the city is emphasizing environmental concerns and will do what they can to ensure that the new system is eco-friendly; this is critical in a society where climate change is at the forefront of all city planning decisions.
Transportation Demand Management
In addition to outlining the focus of Mobility Plan 2035, the City of Los Angeles has also released an update on the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program.
The city has now said that in an effort to improve sustainable transportation, new developments may be required to include transit techniques such as telecommuting, walking, carshare, or neighborhood shuttles.
This requirement would decrease the number of cars on the road while ensuring that strategies implemented will be catered to the use of residents. This update will also ensure that new transit strategies are implemented strategically across all of Los Angeles—not just along suggested corridors or near certain landmarks.
City Initiatives
The city is also backing two initiatives, with one being the Great Streets Challenge Grant. The goal of this project is to transform Los Angeles streets for the better in terms of infrastructure and design with significant community input. The second initiative is the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Grant Program. This program is funded by the state and gives money to development projects that accomplish two things: providing affordable housing and implementing transit-related infrastructure for residents.
Overall, it is clear that the City of Los Angeles is pushing hard to improve the layout of their public transportation system while simultaneously prioritizing sustainable development. This is evident by the number of programs and regulations regarding development that are now in place. The transit network will only grow as a result of these changes, and will be more efficient at moving millions of people throughout the city each day, with a minimal climatic impact.
