Show us the money: Is LA serious about providing shade for bus riders?

The City of Los  Angeles is in the process of developing a new bus shelter program as its 20 year contract with Outfront/JCDecaux expires at the end of this year (see Council File 20-1536).  As part of the replacement process, Los Angeles is hosting “demonstration projects” for potential new shelters across the city this month (see StreetsblogLA’s coverage of it here).

While the City spends two weeks showcasing potential new bus stops, we are still left with fundamental questions about this program. In particular, details have been scarce regarding implementation, funding and repairs to existing sidewalk damage where shelters are installed.

Funding:  When the City issued its Request for Proposals earlier this year, they asked for proposals “to include a minimum of three different cost proposals based upon the City participating in zero percent, fifty percent and one hundred percent of the program’s foreseen capital expenditures (CAPEX) costs.” (May 20, 2021 CF 20-1536 report to Public Works Committee).

While interested community members are being encouraged to check out the new shelters, there is no public discussion on the financing and scope of this new program. If the City contributes no capital dollars, the new program, like the old program, will likely be steered by advertising revenue.

There are key issues that need to be discussed with policymakers and community members such as:

  1. How many Metro bus stops will get new shelters? What is that timeline (6 months? a year)? Will this include DASH bus stops?

  2. If the City provides 100% of the funding up front:

    • How much will this cost?

    • Where is this funding coming from?

    • Is Metro contributing to the effort?

    • Does this include funding for fixing/addressing access ramps and sidewalk repairs where needed ?

    • With a CAPEX of 100% how many shelters can be installed in year 1?

    • What do the initial finances look like? Who is reviewing them?

    • What happens at the bus stops where we need shelters but the sidewalks are not ADA accessible and in disrepair? Will the broken sidewalks/crosswalks be fixed in order to install needed shelters?

  1. Is there coordination for new shelters with the City’s urban forestry program? Can the new shelters include trees?

  2. Bureau of Street Services (BSS) manages: sidewalks, the street vendor program, and the street furniture program – is there an opportunity to coordinate and discuss how these 3 key programs work together to support an inclusive and accessible space?

LA Sidewalks: It is no secret that there is a lack of coordination and investment in the City’s sidewalks and crosswalks. There is reason to be concerned that this new street furniture program is moving ahead without addressing the fact that the City of Los Angeles has no guiding policy or set of metrics to inform the development of a walkable and rollable city with vibrant and inclusive sidewalks serving multiple needs and community uses.

The difference between how the City of Los Angeles manages its roads for people in cars, as opposed to those walking, rolling and using the bus is staggering.

For the past 20 years, Los Angeles bus riders have not been provided a shelter and seat in the shade, unless there can be advertising money recouped from it. In a region where voters have taxed themselves 4 times to improve transportation options, why is it that policymakers have decided that it doesn’t include transit and bus access? Or sidewalk and crosswalk access?

We have heard anecdotal information from Bureau of Street Services staff that 50% or more of the bus stops in Los Angeles are currently unable to have a bus shelter because the sidewalk is in disrepair, inaccessible or not wide enough. But in reality, we have no idea what this number is because even after the 2015 Willits Class action lawsuit, the City still has no inventory of the 11,000 miles of sidewalks that cover our city.

For the past 20+ years, policy makers in the City of Los Angeles have decided to hand over sidewalks and bus shelters, both critical parts of our transportation network, to property owners and the private sector to manage, only inserting City policy to attempt to leverage advertising revenue. This current approach only benefits wealthy homeowners and those who do not ride buses.

The City of Los Angeles needs a comprehensive bus stop upgrade capital program (not a plan, not a contest, not a pilot, but something that will be implemented). Done in partnership with Metro, with transportation funds and not a program reliant on advertising revenue.

 

Background:

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Estolano Advisors

Richard France

Richard France assists clients with strategic planning, visioning, and community and economic development. He is a strategic planner at Estolano Advisors, where he has been involved in a variety of active transportation, transit-oriented development, climate change resiliency, and equitable economic development projects. His work in active transportation includes coordinating a study to improve bike and pedestrian access to transit oriented districts for the County of Los Angeles, and working with the Southern California Association of Governments to host tactical urbanism events throughout the region. Richard also serves as a technical assistance provider for a number of California Climate Investment programs, including the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities, Transformative Climate Communities, and Low Carbon Transit Operations programs. He has also taught at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Richard received a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and his M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA.

Accelerator for America, Milken Institute

Matt Horton

Matt Horton is the director of state policy and initiatives for Accelerator for America. He collaborates with government officials, impact investors, and community leaders to shape infrastructure, job creation, and equitable community development efforts. With over fifteen years of experience, Matt has directed research-driven programs and initiatives focusing on housing production, infrastructure finance, access to capital, job creation, and economic development strategies. Previously, he served as the director of the California Center at the Milken Institute, where he produced research and events to support innovative economic policy solutions. Matt also has experience at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), where he coordinated regional policy development and planning efforts. He holds an MA in political science from California State University, Fullerton, and a BA in history from Azusa Pacific University. Additionally, Matt serves as a Senior Advisor for the Milken Institute and is involved in various advisory boards, including Lift to Rise and WorkingNation.

UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

Madeline Brozen

Madeline is the Deputy Director of the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies at the Luskin School of Public Affairs. She oversees and supports students, staff, and faculty who work on planning and policy issues about how people live, move, and work in the Southern California region. When not supporting the work of the Lewis Center community, Madeline is doing research on the transportation patterns and travel needs of vulnerable populations in LA. Her recent work includes studies of low-income older adults in Westlake, public transit safety among university students, and uncovering the transportation needs of women, and girls in partnership with Los Angeles public agencies. Outside of UCLA, Madeline serves as the vice-chair of the Metro Westside Service Council and enjoys spending time seeing Los Angeles on the bus, on foot, and by bike.

Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass

Luis Gutierrez

Luis Gutierrez, works in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, as the Director of Energy & Water in the Office of Energy and Sustainability (MOES), Luis oversees issues related to LA’s transition to clean energy, water infrastructure, and serves as the primary liaison between the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Water and Power. Prior to joining MOES, Luis managed regulatory policy proceedings for Southern California Edison (SCE), focusing on issues related to equity and justice. Before joining SCE, Luis served as the Director of Policy and Research for Inclusive Action for the City, a community development organization dedicated to economic justice in Los Angeles. Luis holds a BA in Sociology and Spanish Literature from Wesleyan University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Cal State LA.

kim@investinginplace.org

Communications Strategist

Kim Perez

Kim is a writer, researcher and communications strategist, focused on sustainability, urban resilience and safe streets. Her specialty is taking something complex and making it clear and compelling. Harvard-trained in sustainability, she won a prize for her original research related to urban resilience in heat waves—in which she proposed a method to help cities identify where pedestrians spend a dangerous amount of time in direct sun, so they can plan for more equitable access to shade across a city.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jessica Meaney

For over almost two decades, Jessica has led efforts in Los Angeles to promote inclusive decision-making and equitable resource allocation in public works and transportation funding. Jessica’s current work at Investing in Place is grounded in the belief that transparent and strategic prioritization of public funds can transform Los Angeles into a city where inclusive, accessible public spaces enrich both livability and well-being. As a collaborator and convener, Jessica plays a role in facilitating public policy conversations and providing nuanced insights into the interplay of politics, power, and process on decision-making and fiscal allocations.