Expanding light rail in LA means developing "complete streets" for local communities (nrdc.org)

Expanding light rail in LA means developing "complete streets" for local

Posted May 13, 2011

Link: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jwall/expanding_light_rail_in_la_mea.html

Once fully constructed, the Expo Light Rail Transit line will offer a crucial alternative to freeway gridlock and service an estimated 64,000 daily riders by 2030, allowing residents to travel from Santa Monica to Downtown in approximately 46 minutes.

Already mostly constructed, Phase I of the line is slated to open in early 2012. Phase II’s final environmental impact report was certified in February 2010, and now the Exposition Construction Authority is soliciting community input for the design process. Public meetings were held on Monday, May 9th in Santa Monica and Wednesday, May 11th in Los Angeles to kick off the design process.

The design and construction of the second phase of the Expo line provides a valuable opportunity to redesign portions our city streets to create “complete streets,” enhancing public health and reaping numerous environmental benefits.

Adding some of the following elements would not only make the project more environmentally friendly, but would also increase the quality of life for those using and living near the project:

• Green infrastructure components: With all the construction that Expo will require, there are countless opportunities to reduce impervious services and encourage the use of innovative stormwater management practices. The current design already calls for the planting of street trees, which will help improve the air quality and mitigate the effects of urban heat islands. To further manage periodic wet weather, bioretention swales and pervious pavement could be built in to the design so that stormwater can infiltrate instead of running off into our waterways. Especially in parking lots, typically vast areas of impervious surfaces where water pools when it rains, low impact development can filter pollutants and control runoff volume far better than traditional methods.

• Expo Greenway: By creating the Expo Greenway, there would not only be additional recreation space available to residents and users of the rail system, but it would also aid in cleaning Ballona Creek by filtering stormwater.

• Native, drought tolerant plants: Not only will planting native species save money by reducing irrigation needs (some species require no additional water once established), but they also require less maintenance and are a proven way toreduce pesticide and fertilizer runoff into local watersheds. These plants also provide habitat for local wildlife, which would make the greenery surrounding the transit line even more vibrant.

• Wide sidewalks utilizing high albedo pavement: Light, reflective pavement could be used for surfaces to minimize the urban heat island effect further. “A recent study of the City of Los Angeles indicated that increasing pavement albedocitywide could be worth $90 million a year in energy savings, smog reduction, and related public health benefits.”

• Traffic calming elements: To help pedestrians get to and from stations unharmed, traffic-calming elements like chicanes could be combined with plantings to make the stations not only safe, but sustainable.

• A well-lit and fully connected bikeway: As anyone that has rode down the crumbling Venice Boulevard bike lanes at 2am can tell you, having a safe and dependable cycling artery from the Westside to Downtown would be a tremendous improvement. The proposed bikeway that would accompany the Expo line could make this a reality, enabling all community members to enjoy the health benefits of cycling while transporting themselves across the city.

• Safe and adequate bicycle storage facilities at each stop: For those that want to jointly use light rail and a bicycle, secure bike parking should be a priority at each station. This would allow riders to commute to and from the stations via bicycle, knowing that their bike will still be there when they return.

Adding these suggestions will make the Expo line an even more important transit addition to our city, helping to decrease air pollution, vehicle miles traveled, and greenhouse gases while providing a form of transportation accessible to all income groups and mobility levels.