Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Villaraigosa's Thoughts on LA's Transit System


For those who were not able to attend Mobility 21 you probably missed the keynote speech from Mayor Villaraigosa.

The Huffington Post is reporting about his thoughts.

You can read it and his thoughts on the transportation system in Los Angeles here.

My only beef with Villaraigosa's vision is that he too easily expresses his politics in his thoughts. High Speed Rail will def. be a big project for Southern California....wait...all of California in the next decade, but the Subway to the Sea? Calling Subway to the Sea one of the most important transportation projects in California...is a bit premature.

Off the top of my head I can think of several as equally important or more important infrastructure projects that should rank ahead of the Subway to the Sea. Increasing capacity for the Ports to increase international trade for example. Regional connectors and electric vehicle/hydrogen infrastructure.

Thoughts, ideas, opinions?

CA 2, Santa Monica Blvd, and Beverly Hills

It's no secret that Beverly Hills tries to reduce the amount of outsiders coming through its city nor is it unnoticed that they make the staggering of their lights unproductive to discourage people from driving through.

However, CA 2 aka Santa Monica Blvd. is not just any street as it, to my understanding, should be under Cal Trans' jurisdiction. If this is the case, then why do the signals on the boulevard decrease traffic flow efficiency (as on other city run streets) in Beverly Hills?

Personally, I'm shocked that nothing has been done about this especially with all of the money that has been spent on that street by taxpayers and Cal Trans.

Thoughts anyone?