Federal Level
Metro Awarded Federal Funding For Electric Bus Fleet
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $104 million grant to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to purchase and deploy 160 electric buses and install charging stations along the bus routes.
General LA
City Council Votes To Present Healthy Streets To 2024 Voters, Instead Of Adopting Immediately
After Streets For All received a sufficient number of signatures to force City Council action on its initiative ordinance aimed at compelling the city to implement its Mobility Plan, the Los Angeles City Council opted to present voters with the Healthy Streets LA ordinance in 2024 instead of adopting the ordinance as is on Wednesday. Council members also said in the meantime they would work to adopt Council President Nury Martinez' plan to advance implementation of the Mobility Plan through an equity lens.
Section Of Griffith Park Dr. Permanently Closed To Vehicles
The Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners unanimously voted to permanently close a section of Griffith Park Drive to private vehicles to prevent motorists from using the park as a shortcut to avoid freeway traffic. The two-thirds of a mile section was first closed in July as a pilot program.
Councilman Calls For LA "Superblocks" Modeled After Barcelona
Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon introduced a motion proposing a "park block" pilot program modeled after Barcelona's "superblocks," which began in 2016 and reconfigured traffic in certain areas to allow for open space for pedestrians to enjoy.
LA To Explore Periodically Closing Sixth Street Viaduct To Vehicle Traffic
The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion aimed at developing a plan to maintain the Sixth Street Viaduct, improve safety and keep traffic moving. The motion includes exploring periodically closing the bridge to vehicular traffic to allow for exclusive access by pedestrian and bicycles.
San Gabriel Valley (Pasadena, SouthPas, Pomona)
Pasadena Transit Schedule Changed Due To Bus Driver Shortage
With Pasadena Transit facing a bus driver shortage, officials implemented service changes to have Route 10 buses operate every 30 minutes every day of the week and Route 20 operate every 22 minutes on weekdays. Minor changes were implemented for Route 31/32 and Route 40.
South Bay (Carson, Long Beach)
Long Beach Releases $520 Million Public Infrastructure Plan
The spending plan lists a wide range of projects that city leaders hope to address over the next five years including major investments in city parks, buildings and hundreds of millions earmarked for city streets. City officials say this plan does not include potential funding the city will receive from the Build Back Better plan championed by the Biden Administration.
Gateway Cities (Downey, Montebello, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate)
Constituents Debate Proposed Whittier - East LA Light-Rail Extension
About 30 people attended a Metro meeting to give feedback on a proposed light-rail extension from East Los Angeles to Whittier. The nine-mile line would travel underground from the Pomona Freeway and Atlantic Boulevard Station to Commerce, then above ground on Washington Boulevard through Montebello, Pico Rivera and Santa Fe Springs. Supporters argued that it would improve transportation and investment in the community.