The Los Angeles City Council aims to improve road safety and calm traffic by encouraging residents to give up their motor vehicles or reduce usage through its controversial Mobility Plan 2035.
The plan calls for hundreds of miles of new bus-only lanes, bicycle lanes, and traffic calming measures over the next 20 years. It would use existing roads for 300 miles of bike lanes and 117 miles of bus-only lanes. Major corridors such as Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Way, and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard would be redesigned. But critics doubt the plan will have the intended effect.
"Taking away lanes, which creates congestion, to try and force people to choose a different method of transportation other than the car, is a horrible way to solve a congestion problem," said Richard Katz, a planning commissioner. "People don't respond well to being forced to do things.”
Supporters say the mobility plan is an acknowledgment that the city can't build its way out of congestion problems. Widening streets is no longer feasible, and new freeways not viable because of the cost and difficulty in acquiring rights of way, they say.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 19, 2019
Notre Dame fire highlights danger of renovating historic structures
The devastating fire at Notre-Dame de Paris is the latest blaze to damage or destroy historic buildings while undergoing renovations. It highlights how vulnerable such structures are to fire while undergoing repairs.
Codes and Standards | Apr 19, 2019
Developers and owners can now join AIA 2030 Commitment
Organization offers tools and resources for working toward net-zero design.
Codes and Standards | Apr 19, 2019
New method of manufacturing cement removes CO2 from the air
Breakthrough could have significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Codes and Standards | Apr 12, 2019
Deadline nears on New York City sprinkler requirement for tall office buildings
The mandate applies to all buildings regardless of when constructed.
Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2019
LEED v4.1 now available for cities, communities, residential/homes
The rating system emphasizes performance monitoring, fully integrated design, social equity, and human health.
Market Data | Apr 8, 2019
Engineering, construction spending to rise 3% in 2019: FMI outlook
Top-performing segments forecast in 2019 include transportation, public safety, and education.
Codes and Standards | Apr 5, 2019
Manhattan expected to adopt congestion pricing plan for automobiles
New York would be first U.S. city to charge drivers extra for downtown motoring.
Codes and Standards | Apr 4, 2019
Chicago makes major building code overhaul
Previous comprehensive changes were done 70 years ago.
Codes and Standards | Apr 3, 2019
Construction advanced materials makers can enhance industry efficiency with technology
Integration of new IT approaches in construction with new materials has potential to enhance sustainability, alleviate worker shortage.
Codes and Standards | Apr 2, 2019
Open offices reduce collaboration among employees
Counterintuitive finding makes value of wide open workspaces questionable.
