Genuine city policy is written, not spoken

The LB General Plan Land Use Element

Pictured is the 17 February 2012 revision of the Laguna Beach Land Use Element, one of seven elements in a General Plan specified by California statute. In 2008 California's legislature passed a law requiring after January 1 2011, any substantive revision of a Circulation Element of a General Plan, the transportation system of a city must plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all roadway users for safe and convenient travel.
 
Known as the California Statute for Complete Streets, Gov. Code section 65302(b)(2)(A,B) says the General Plan shall consist of text setting forth objectives, principles, standards and planning proposals to build streets usable by "bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors."

Complete Streets code also says the Circulation Element must be correlated with the Land Use Element. That means that when the Circulation Element is revised to plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network, it must also be consistent with the Land Use Element. Typically, both must be revised simultaneously to ensure mutual compatibility. Since the Laguna Beach Circulation element was not updated, it is necessary to update both documents now.

In fact, guidelines from the State Office of Planning and Research tell us the road system proposed in the circulation element must be "closely, systematically, and reciprocally related to the land use element of the plan ..." (case law). Another citation says the Elements "form an integrated, internally consistent plan of which all parts are equally weighted in their application ..." (case law). That makes it necessary to amend both elements together. The guidelines say local governments may not amend any one of the mandatory elements of the general plan more than four times in one calendar year (§65358(b)). That does not appear to be an issue for Laguna Beach. 

So Laguna Beach now faces a dilemma. If the city chooses to delay updates to their Circulation Element, the Land Use Element remains uncorrelated with transportation planning and the GP is thereby out of conformance with Government Code section  65302. If the city chooses to update both elements but ignores its obligation to plan for all users of the transportation system, then the City of Laguna is not complying with State law.

Kids, seniors, and disabled folks are left out -- sometimes in dangerous positions in the roadway risking life and limb (Aliso Bridge). That's not right and it's not legal.


We deserve better.

-LS

'Roger that, heading for the Grapevine...'

"Contested Streets", a classic documentary on origins of auto traffic

If you don't know the origins of automobile congestion, you won't have a clue how to solve the problem. Working from the wrong information bias you will choose the wrong solution for congested streets like Laguna Canyon Road.

Businesses do better... Property values go up.... Do a Road Diet

  A Road Diet means reallocating road space to people who live here, who work here, who buy stuff here versus the privileged few who just drive through here fast. -Charlie Gandy, Long Beach Mobility Coordinator

Six-foot Easter Bunny fails to yield Glendale traffic

Would a six-foot rabbit make car drivers slow down at crosswalks? Not in Glendale California where a policeman in a rabbit suit tried to cross a busy street-corner. Remember to pack a pink Flamingo suit for crossing PCH at Oak or Laguna Canyon Road at LCAD. Story Glendale News Press

Why Laguna Beach traffic can never improve

Pictured is the cover-page for the Transportation Circulation and Growth Management Element (the Element) from our city General Plan. Notice the automobiles pictured on the cover roughly circa 1930. Today the maturity and relevance of the Element is just as dated.

State government guidelines recommend periodic updates to the General Plan, the statutes recommend every 5 years (SB-244). Our Element has been amended only ONCE since 1974, 38 YEARS AGO!!! Inside page 8 says “The Element acknowledges the constraints of existing conditions but is sensitive to anticipated regional needs of the future.” Does that  mean 1939, 1959, or 1979?

The Element contains a policy statement specifying what mobility access Laguna provides for our town, what good is a policy statement that is never implemented? The Element reads 9C: “assure that local bicycle routes will be compatible with routes of neighboring jurisdictions.”, 9H: “Evaluate and improve pedestrian safety improvements and or devices at appropriate crosswalks.”, 9I: “Investigate the feasibility of creating a pedestrian mall on Forest Avenue”, and more.

The Element boasts Laguna Beach as a walking city taking credit for pedestrian beach access, but clearly not for access to South Laguna, crossing PCH or Canyon Road, or Park and Glenneyre. Bicycles are dismissed altogether because “Providing a comprehensive bicycle trail system throughout the community is not physically possible due to the steep hillside”, cyclists take note.

At the moment there are no city staff working on the Element and no plans for future work. The city is instead making motions to apply for grant funding. The prerequisite for application is to show demonstrated work on transportation planning. No transport planning, no Grant.

Ever wonder why traffic in Laguna Beach gets worse despite years and years and years of meetings with city government officials and city residents? Examples: the PTC for parking and traffic, OC Green Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee, Climate Protection Group, the Complete Streets Task Force.

Despite the CSTF and the PTC already in session, LB city government  dreamed-up yet another Sustainability Committee to convene first in May. Until city government makes a commitment to plan, write, adopt, implement and fund a new relevant mobility plan, solving transportation congestion through this town is pure fantasy.

The State of California General Plan Guidelines reads “It is important to the public that the process they participate in has an impact on the final product.” Remember that when you vote.

-LS

I know I know, never in Laguna Beach

 

Cute eh?

"Bicycle Cultures are Man-Made" by AmsterDamize.com Click to Zoom!

Complete Streets good for business, another case study

Portland, Oregon
Promoting bicycling has great potential to increase overall physical activity; however, significant uncertainty exists with regard to the amount and effectiveness of investment needed for infrastructure. The objective of this study is to assess how costs of Portland’s past and planned investments in bicycling relate to health and other benefits. Gotschi claims by 2040, investments in the range $138 to $605 million will result in:

• Health care cost savings of $388 to $594 million,
• Fuel savings of $143 to $218 million,
• Savings in value of statistical lives of $7 to $12 billion
• Combined Benefit-cost ratios range 3.8:1 to 1.2:1
• Combined Benefit-cost using statistical lives range 38:1 to 12:1
• Portland Bike Plan estimate $130M for 20 years, actual $100M 15 years
• ONE auto freeway interchange cost $143M in same period 1992-2008

“Costs and Benefits of Bicycling Investments in Portland, Oregon", Thomas Gotschi, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2011, 8(Suppl 1), S49-S58, © 2011 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Los Angeles, California
UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs assessed the economic impact of the Los Angeles based CicLAvia on local businesses. CicLAvia is the Sunday public event that brings 150,000 visitors to Wilshire Boulevard closed to the automobile. Here are highlights of their results.

• Businesses experienced a 10% increase in one-day revenue
• Businesses participating in the event experienced the largest gains
• Participating business performed exceptionally well, loyalty business less well (dry-cleaners, hair salons).

 Read the full UCLA report here.

Complete Streets good for business, another case study

Long Beach, California
A parking space costs $16k per space to build (In Laguna its $10k)

• Long Beach Mobility Initiative is funded through private grants
• $500,000 funding for bicycle education
• Gandy: investments a consequence of bike program underway (feedback)
• Ridership increased 400 to 1000 riders per day, Second Ave Sharrows
• Budgeting $500k to teach elementary schools on bike safety
• Long Beach will compress 15 year development in Portland to 1 year
• Long Beach adding 100% more bike lanes and facilities in two years

“A Conversation with City of Long Beach Mobility Coordinator Charlie Gandy”, Long Beach Business Journal, December 2010.

Complete Streets good for business, another case study

Vermont USA
Tourists coming to Vermont state to walk and bicycle in the scenic, human-scale
towns and compact, pedestrian-friendly town centers have proved to be an economic boon. Walkability is a human magnet.

• In 1992 32,500 visiting cyclists spent $13.1 million ...
• ... twice the money generated by maple syrup producers in a good year.

“A Landscape of Choice,Strategies for Improving Patterns of Community Growth,” The Growth Alternatives Alliance, 1998.