Sign on to our Comment Letter for SCAG’s 2012 Draft RTP/SCS
January 31, 2012 6 Comments
Help us increase funding for Active Transportation - Provide additional funding: Walking and biking make up 21 percent of the trips (NHTS 2009) and 25 percent of the fatalities in the SCAG region (SCAG RTP/SCS). The SCAG region also currently suffers from a 24 percent obesity rate, with some populations reaching 50 percent. Despite this need for added funding for active transportation, the RTP only allocates a little more than 1% of the funding to active transportation. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health estimates that $40 billion is needed. We therefore request that SCAG increase the funding for active transportation to between 5%-8% of the total funding in the RTP.
- Fast track active transportation funding: The SCAG RTP allocates $6 billion for active transportation. However, $4.8 billion or 80 percent of this funding is not available until after 2026. In addition, for the years 2016-2025 the funding for active transportation will be half of what it is currently on an annual basis.
- Provide technical assistance: SCAG can play a leadership role in promoting active transportation throughout the region by providing additional planning assistance to local communities. This should include a Regional Complete Streets Plan and a Regional Safe Routes to School Plan. We would like to see a commitment from SCAG to complete these plans by 2014. To accomplish this goal we suggest that SCAG create an Active Transportation Advisory Council composed of elected officials and professionals to guide the implementation of these policies.
- Include school siting as an element of the SCS: In our region 14 percent of all morning congestion is caused by private car drop off at schools (Traffic Injury Prevention August 2011). It is critical that transportation agencies incorporate school siting into their land use and transportation plans so that children can safely walk and bicycle to school.
- Monitor transportation funding for environmental justice communities. SCAG does not adequately link RTP/SCS active transportation funding to its environmental justice obligations. The lack of active transportation funding disproportionally affects immigrant, lower-income, and minority populations because these neighborhoods have greater barriers to physical activity.
Upcoming SCAG Regional Council Meetings
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Draft PEIR RTP/SCS and Joint Regional Council and Policy Committees Workshop
SCAG Los Angeles Board Room
Available also via Videoconference
Thursday, March 1, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Regional Council and Policy Committees Meeting
SCAG Los Angeles Board Room
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Joint Regional Council and Policy Committees RTP/SCS Special Workshop
SCAG Los Angeles Board Room
Available also via Videoconference
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Regional Council received Public Comments and Considers Adoption of the 2012-2035 RTP/SCS and PEIR
Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles
SCAG Main Office
818 W. 7th Street, 12th Floor
Board Room
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 236-180
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