Boosting the Role of Neighborhood Councils in DOT Traffic Improvements

Boosting the Role of Neighborhood Councils in DOT Traffic Improvements...
Next week, I will introduce a motion that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to submit any new traffic features planned in the City of Los Angeles for review by Neighborhood Councils before installing them.

We have heard a great deal of input from cycling advocates, Neighborhood Councils and community members who want to have more input on traffic improvements that affect their quality of life on a daily basis. Traffic improvements can have a big impact - positive or negative - on safety, travel time and convenience for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, so it is crucial that community stakeholders' voices are heard.

The motion would have the DOT implement a policy of engaging in outreach and dialogue with the community before changing any traffic features, such as crosswalks, road striping, bike lanes, turn lanes, parking, traffic signals, stop signs and more. They would have to share the plans for any traffic feature with the Neighborhood Council representing the area where the project is proposed and hear and address their concerns and feedback before installation.

The Neighborhood Council system was established by the City Charter to fulfill exactly this type of advisory function. They are an excellent platform to communicate the sentiments and needs of community members on a highly localized level. They also are already established by the Charter as the preferred neighborhood-level advisory bodies. Most of them already have transportation committees and are highly engaged and knowledgeable about local traffic issues.

Although this motion was precipitated by new road striping that included bike lanes on Wilbur Ave. in Northridge, it is not targeted specifically at bicycle traffic features. We support making L.A. more bike friendly and increasing the number of bike lanes to make traveling by bike safer and more convenient. However, the Wilbur re-striping was done by DOT with complete disregard of the many serious concerns voiced by the community and by our office. In response, we submitted a motion that would require Neighborhood Council review for any bicycle traffic feature. Now, however, we want to expand that to include ANY new traffic features.

We will announce progress on this motion on our newsletter and on our website at www.CD12.org.

News Letter from Greig Smith's Office Councilman 12 District, Los Angeles,CA

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Boren's Laws of the Bureaucracy: 1. When in doubt, mumble. 2. When in trouble, delegate. 3. When in charge, ponder.