LA/2B

LADCP partnered with GOOD/Corps to present a series of infographics in the LA/2B Series: Our Streets. Our CIty. The image above is the second infographic (March 2012) in the series and showcases the diverse elements of Wilshire Blvd.

by Juliet Oh

As many of you may know, the much anticipated CicLAvia – Iconic Wilshire Boulevard, is just around the corner. This time around, Angelenos will be able to experience one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable and historic roadways up close and at a leisurely pace.

View of Wilshire Blvd, looking West, Original Brown Derby (right)
Photo Credit: USC Digital Library

A brief history primer…

During the early years of the City’s growth (1880s to 1900s), Wilshire Blvd was a model for innovation and progress. The early City founders equipped Wilshire with the City’s first automated traffic signals, painted traffic lanes, and dedicated left turn lanes; the Boulevard became a blueprint for a new type of “linear downtown” centered on the automobile. Elaborate billboard advertisements and neon lights popped up along Wilshire to catch the eyes of motorists zipping through the City. Developers envisioned Wilshire Blvd as the new commercial corridor outside of Downtown Los Angeles.

Wilshire Blvd is still one of the most talked about streets in Los Angeles. Known for its wide range of architectural styles and iconic buildings, this street appeals to architecture buffs and preservationists alike. The Los Angeles Times chronicles the evolution of architecture along Wilshire here. As office buildings, commercial uses, and high density residential structures replaced single-family homes, the street and roadway were widened to accommodate more users and traffic.

A boulevard in transition…

Today, Wilshire Blvd continues to be a model for innovation and progress. A street originally designed for the savvy urban motorist has undergone a number of transportation makeovers, with many more on the way. Buses and the subway were introduced to the Boulevard, while June 2013 marked the opening of the first segment of the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with a dedicated lane during peak travel times (7-9am and 4-7pm Monday-Friday). Future projects such as the next segments of the BRT line (estimated completion November 2014) and the extension of the Purple Line (construction begins 2014) present new opportunities for Angelenos.

Wilshire Blvd in Westlake, looking east, Bullocks Department Store shown on right
Photo Credit: Metro Transportation Library and Archive

Wilshire Boulevard mirrors the challenge and opportunity for an enhanced network of multi modal streets throughout the City. As one of the most widely used east-west transportation corridors, it seems at times that many modes of travel may be vying for the same space. However, the upcoming CicLAvia along Wilshire Boulevard provides a great way for Angelenos to experience the street from an entirely different perspective. Because so much of the street has changed, new track has/will be laid, and so many enhancements have yet to be made, a diverse mix of transportation options are in Wilshire Blvd’s near future.

A walkable CicLAvia…

Compared to previous CicLAvia events, the Wilshire Blvd stretch is on the short end at only 6 miles, so organizers are calling it “the most walkable CicLAvia ever.” In addition, Angelenos can take advantage of the Purple and Red Lines that run the from Downtown to Western Ave; you can take your time along the route and explore the hodgepodge of neighborhoods that call Wilshire home: Downtown, Westlake/MacArthur Park, Koreatown/Wilshire Center, Hancock Park, and Miracle Mile. The Los Angeles Conservancy provides an interactive guide of the Boulevard’s districts and landmarks here.

The City hosted two EIR scoping meetings in the Valley (April 16) and Central area (April 22). These meetings were the first step in initiating the environmental analysis phase of the Mobility Element Update. Both meetings followed the format of an open house with a brief presentation at 6:00 PM. The main purpose of these meetings was to give attendees an opportunity to ask questions and submit comments about the proposed networks and environmental analysis. For those who missed it, you can view the video of the presentation in the blog post just before this one, as well as download all the meeting materials here:
http://la2b.org/documents/

Many participants voiced their concern with the Vehicle-Enhanced Network (VEN) and the potential safety and traffic issues that may result from these enhancements. However, the VEN will not act as an exclusive roadway for vehicles; just as all the other networks are not exclusive streets for a particular mode. The three networks and pedestrian districts will create a layered network of complete streets that provide more choices and opportunities for all users. The Mobility Element update plans for the next 25 years of the City’s transportation systems and is the framework by which the City’s roadways can be transformed and reimagined.

We also received comments about streets that should be included or taken out of the proposed networks, concerns about the extent of enhancements proposed along busy corridors, and the potential impacts to existing uses and the environment. All these issues will be analyzed and addressed in the draft document and EIR.

Thank you for participating in our scoping meetings and for submitting comments about the environmental analysis and EIR. Your input continues to play a critical role in shaping the Mobility Element and the proposed networks. We’ll be releasing another version of the maps after the comments come in. Remember, the comment period has been informally extended until June 5^th for the general public, but the sooner the better. You can mail or email your comments to:

My La
Department of City Planning
200 N. Spring Street
Room 667, MS 395
Los Angeles, CA 90012
My.La@lacity.org

We encourage you to check our blog for more updates on the project and future events.

Attendees visit stations to ask questions and submit comments.

For those who can’t come out to the meetings in person, we will be live streaming both of our scoping meetings online. Anyone with access to a computer with an internet connection (i.e. home, library) can listen to the presentation and type out questions or provide comments while the meeting is going on.

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Please note the Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) document has been revised with corrected meeting locations. The correct meeting locations are as follows:

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The City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning (Lead Agency) will be preparing an environmental impact report (EIR) for the Mobility Element Update (proposed project). The EIR is a technical document that analyzes the environmental impacts of the project, identifies ways to lessen those impacts and clarifies environmental issues and choices. It is used to inform the public of the potential effects to the environment, and also as a resource for decision-making bodies such as the city’s planning commission that will decide whether to approve or deny the project, or to demand that extra efforts be made to mitigate negative side effects of the project.   As part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, we are requesting your comments about what should be analyzed in the EIR.

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The Los Angeles Department of City Planning is hitting the road to inform communities about the ongoing updates to the City’s General Plan. These public meetings are informational sessions where the public can ask questions and learn about the numerous updates to the General Plan currently in progress. As you may know, the General Plan is the City’s long-range vision for growth and future development. The General Plan is comprised of the following elements: Framework, Land Use, Mobility, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Safety, Noise, Air Quality, Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources, and Public Facilities and Services.

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