Today is Mobility Monday! Please take action today by emailing, tweeting, or sharing our social media to make sure that the Budget & Finance Committee knows you want to #makeLAcity a safe place to bike and walk. Together we can eliminate traffic fatalities in Los Angeles!
In addition to taking action throughout #MobilityMonday by sending in emails or engaging on social media, join us this morning, Monday, May 1, at 9:00am in L.A. City Hall Room 340, when the Budget & Finance Committee will discuss how to fully fund active transportation in the 2017-2018 City Budget.
LACBC is advocating that the City:
Meaningfully increase funding for Vision Zero while decoupling funding for road resurfacing and Vision Zero efforts so the public has an accurate understanding of how money is being prioritized;
Increase funding to the budget line items related to the City’s bicycle program;
Dedicate 10% from local return dollars from Measure M for anti-displacement measures that will go towards protecting residents from the unintended consequences of infrastructure investment;
Prioritize Low-Income Communities and Communities of Color by applying an equity lens to active transportation spending
The City of Los Angeles will soon receive about $50 million dollars annually from Measure M local return. We need you to tell City Council to spend that money on projects that create safer streets to achieve Vision Zero and prioritize transportation equity.
To submit to Council File- email Richard Williams – Legislative Assistant – richard.williams@lacity.org (213) 978-1071
May 1, 2017
Chair Paul Krekorian and Members of the Budget & Finance Committee
Los Angeles City Council
200 N. Spring Street, Room 435
Los Angeles, CA 90012
RE: CF # 17-0600 – Budget Proposal Fiscal Year 2017-18
Dear Chairman Krekorian and Members of the Committee:
I strongly encourage the Budget and Finance Committee to revise the 2017 City Budget and robustly invest in saving lives and preventing injuries by meaningfully implementing Vision Zero. Los Angeles Department of Transportation General Manager Seleta Reynolds has said it will cost $80 million to achieve the City’s Vision Zero goal of 20% reduction in traffic deaths by the end of 2017. But the City’s proposed budget dedicates a mere $16 million. This extreme shortfall shows the City’s lack of providing meaningful funding to meet its Vision Zero goals.
We also ask that the City reverse its trend of a flat investments in budget items related to the bicycle program. The City’s failure to adequately invest in a robust bicycle program has resulted in fewer resources being allocated to programs that encourage people to bike, such as Safe Routes to Schools and bicycle wayfinding.
Additionally, I firmly believe transit and transportation investments must not hurt the communities it aims to protect. Nearly half of the streets on the High-Injury Network are neighborhoods with a greater percentage of people of color, immigrants, and low-income families.Therefore, I implore the Committee to ensure that increased resources are coupled with anti-displacement measures that preserve affordable housing and increase tenant protections.
I urge you to:
Meaningfully increase funding for Vision Zero while decoupling funding for road resurfacing and Vision Zero efforts so the public has an accurate understanding of how money is being prioritized;
Increase funding to budget line items related to the City’s bicycle program;
Dedicate 10% from local return dollars from Measure M for anti-displacement measures that will go towards protecting residents from the unintended consequences of infrastructure investment.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]