General LA
LA Metro To Increase Enforcement Of Anti-Drug Policies
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced it will increase enforcement of its policies prohibiting drug use on the transit system. The announcement comes after an increase in complaints about people using drugs on buses and trains.
LA County Supervisor Seeks To Prepare LA For Potential Train Derailment
In light of the recent significant train derailments in Eastern Ohio and yesterday in Michigan, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she will introduce a motion at the next Board of Supervisors meeting calling on Los Angeles County’s Office of Emergency Management to assess and report on the County’s level of preparedness and general disaster response readiness in the event that a similar situation were to take place in Los Angeles County.
San Gabriel Valley
Advocates Push to Overturn Metro Rejection of Safer Pasadena Crosswalks
The Metro board Planning and Programming Committee approved staff recommendations to reprogram some North 710 Freeway funding toward multimodal projects, as requested by the cities of Pasadena and Monterey Park, but unfortunately the committee rejected some commonsense pedestrian safety upgrades proposed by Pasadena. Advocates are hoping that the Metro board will overturn the short-sighted staff recommendations when the full board meets next week.
ActiveSGV Spearheads Plan To Turn Arroyo Seco Parkway Into Cyclists' and Walkers' Haven for Takeover Event
The non-profit organization ActiveSGV is working to organize the second iteration of ArroyoFest, which will take place this October – provided they obtain the necessary permits.
“This would be the first since the original event in 2003,” said Special Programs Director with ActiveSGV, Wesley Reutimann said.
“The plan is to close the 110 to traffic from approximately Avenue 26 just north of the 5 Freeway to the highway’s terminus at Glenarm Street in Pasadena. The six-mile stretch would remain open for four hours on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 29 to cyclists, skaters, and pedestrians,” according to The Eastsider.
Westside
UCLA Undergraduate Students Association Council Supports Construction of Heavy Rail
The Undergraduate Students Association Council passed a resolution Jan. 17 calling on UCLA to endorse a heavy rail alternative for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project and criticizing Vice Chancellor Michael Beck for meetings that the Los Angeles Metro says breached their pre-development agreement with BYD.
Outdoor Dining Becomes Permanent in West Hollywood
The outzones created to help allow restaurants to operate during the pandemic were made permanent at the Feb. 6 West Hollywood City Council meeting, amending an ordinance in the city’s municipal code.