DESIGN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Design Strategies and Resources for Livable Neighborhoods
“There are True Angels in this city. They are the people who devote untold hours each day to building their communities and lifting up those less fortunate than themselves. Whether painting a mural, planting a tree, or serving food to seniors, True Angels realize we are all in this together, and that social change only comes with active, committed engagement. These True Angels come together from all different backgrounds and from all across Los Angeles to lay the foundations of stronger communities for future generations.� -Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Table of Contents Purpose of the Toolkit
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Why Urban Design Matters
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First Steps
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Neighborhood Design Toolbox
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(1) Street Tree Planting
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(2) Closing Streets
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(3) Learning Gardens
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(4) Bike Parking
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(5) Greening the Pavement
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(6) Street Safety
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Š 2011 Prepared by: Sasha Wisotsky UCLA Masters Candidate in Urban Planning, School of Public Affairs
SHERIDAN / HAWKES COLLABORATIVE
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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This toolkit provides information about local resources for L.A. Neighborhood Councils that are seeking to improve their community’s physical urban environment.
Purpose of the Toolkit
What does the toolkit do? •
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It offers a list of design strategies, ideas, and resources for communities in and outside of Los Angeles to promote incremental changes at the neighborhood level for more livable neighborhoods. It provides cost-effective design strategies to improve neighborhoods during a time when city resources are limited. It empowers Neighborhood Councils and other community groups with implementation tools by outlining steps, funding sources, and potential partner organizations for six neighborhood design strategies.
Who is the toolkit for? • • • •
Neighborhood Councils Community Groups and Stakeholders City Officials and Staff General Public
Why Neighborhood Councils?
• Capacity: Neighborhood Councils are an untapped resource in Los Angeles with organized and committed citizens working to improve the quality of life for Angelenos. • Funding: Neighborhood Councils have annual budgets provided by the City of Los Angeles to make improvements in their communities. • Authority: Neighborhood Councils act as consultative review bodies during the development process, making recommendations to developers and City Council Members about the type of development and amenities they would like to see in their neighborhoods.
Where did the toolkit strategies come from?
• Case Studies: Successful examples of incremental neighborhood improvements were studied from across the country that fit the scale, character, climate, and needs of Los Angeles neighborhoods. The research was compiled as part of a final Masters Project in the Planning Department of the UCLA School of Public Affairs. • Interviews, Meetings, and Presentations: Around a dozen design strategies were presented to a sample of Neighborhood Councils throughout the L.A. area to receive feedback. • Community Votes: Based on feedback from community members and Neighborhood Councils, six strategies were selected to create the toolkit.
Can Councils make changes in their neighborhoods? •
YES! The goal is to empower all neighborhoods throughout L.A. to use their resources and make changes that are important to their stakeholders.
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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Photo: Torti Gallas and Partners
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Why Urban Design Matters
What is Urban Design?
Urban design is the design of the space in between buildings, including streets, sidewalks, parks, plazas, alleys, parking lots, etc. The design of this space is critical to the way we perceive our neighborhoods. Are these spaces well-maintained and attractive? Accessible and inviting to pedestrians? Safe for bicyclists? A good place to live? An area you are proud to call home?
Why is it important?
Studies show that urban design matters for the economic, environmental, and social health of our neighborhoods. Over the last five to ten years, local governments and community groups have become more concerned with the “livability” of our communities, seeking ways to improve the design of the public realm to improve everyday life.
How does Urban Design Contribute to a More Livable Community? Urban Design improvements have been shown to: • Increase property values • Improve retail sales • Enhance walkability and pedestrian safety • Improve bicycle safety and mobility • Reduce crime • Increase community engagement and empowerment • Strengthen neighborhood identity and pride • Improve environmental quality
A few of the examples that illustrate these benefits include: • A nationwide study in the U.S. reported a 30% increase in property values after new traffic calming measures were installed. • In New York, apartment prices near community gardens were 7% higher than comparable apartments in the same neighborhood. • Since the City of Mountain View, California widened and enhanced its main downtown street by improving sidewalks, planting street trees, and enhancing streetscaping amenities, the street has drawn over $150 million in private investment in residential and office units and has become a regional attraction.
The Power of Incremental Changes
The following pages present six design strategies to improve the livability of Los Angeles neighborhoods through small incremental changes that over time can have big impacts. For each design strategy, this toolkit outlines: • Actions • Costs • Contacts (Funding Sources, Partner Organizations, & Resources)
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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First Steps
1 Identify Stakeholders Who are the people in your neighborhood?
Who are the residents, property owners, business owners, youth, families, and senior citizens of your neighborhood? What are their shared interests? What would they like to see happen? What are their talents, resources, abilities? How can they contribute to a more livable community?
2 Identify Your Assets What makes your neighborhood unique?
What types of businesses, institutions, and activities help define your neighborhood? How do they influence the way your neighborhood functions? Identify the major players in your area and what they do. For example, does your neighborhood have: • Non-profit organizations dedicated to the arts? • Faith-based organizations? • Learning centers or research institutions? • Schools with students that do community service? • Residents that are professional architects, construction workers, engineers? • People interested in gardening or landscaping? • Small local businesses that will donate goods or services to the community? A local Business Improvement District (BID), Chamber of Commerce (CoC), or faith-based organization can help connect your Neighborhood Council with local resources and stakeholders. Make a list of the organizations, people and businesses that are in your neighborhood. Map your assets. Are these groups involved in your Council? If not, reach out.
3 Prioritize Goals What do you want to do?
Hold a meeting to discuss your strategic planning goals and present the toolkit to your Neighborhood Council and the community. Discuss which ideas would work well in your community, and ask: • What neighborhood improvements would stakeholders like to see? • What ideas from the toolkit would work well in your neighborhood? • Which ideas generate the most support and interest among stakeholders in the Council?
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4 Organize Partners Who can help?
What neighborhood assets could be leveraged to make needed improvements? Contact your City Council representative and let them know what your Council would like to do. Your City Council representative can connect the Neighborhood Council to city services and other state or federal grants that can fund these ideas. Neighborhood Councils and the L.A. City Council have a common interest in improving L.A. neighborhoods. Communicate with developers working in your neighborhood and let them know what improvements your community supports. Neighborhood Councils and developers can collaborate through planning/land use committees. It is helpful to communicate with developers early in the planning process to generate community-supported improvements.
5 Identify Funding Where can you look for funding?
The toolkit outlines potential funding sources for each design strategy. Examples of general funding sources include: $ City of L.A. Board of Public Works: Community Beautification Grants, http://bpw.lacity.org/OCB/cbgrant/index.html $ Pepsi Refresh Challenge Grants: www.refresheverything.com $ Funders’ Network: www.fundersnetwork.org $ Wells Fargo Corporate Giving: www.wellsfargo.com/donations Examples of funding sources that require City coordination include: $ The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working together, coordinating funding opportunities to support sustainable communities. The applications for these grants are announced online: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership $ Local Initiatives Support Corporation – Sustainable Communities $ FORD Foundation $ California Sustainable Communities Grant Program
6 Share Your Ideas How can you inspire change?
Mobilizing communities to make changes that improve their daily life is inspiring. Share your successes, challenges, and lessons learned with other neighborhoods. We’d like to hear your ideas as well. Share your ideas with us at: info@sheridanhawkes.com and sasha.wisotsky@gmail.com.
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.� -Jane Jacobs
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Neighborhood Urban Design Toolbox
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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“Trees around your home can increase its value up to 15% or more.” - Arbor Day Foundation
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“Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and can save 20% - 50% in energy used for heating.” - USDA Forest Service
Photo: Torti Gallas and Partners
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Street Tree Planting
ACTIONS
COSTS
1. Survey your neighborhood to identify areas that are most in need of street trees. Consider which areas receive the most pedestrian traffic. 2. Work with stakeholders and your City Council representative to prioritize your top street tree planting locations. 3. Obtain signatures from residents and business owners who want street trees and can commit to watering. Use the “Permission to Plant and/or Care for a Tree” form from L.A. Conservation Corps. 4. Send the signed forms to L.A. Conservation Corps. They will survey the neighborhood to determine where trees can be planted. 5. Communicate with L.A. Conservation Corps to find out when the survey will be conducted and when the trees will be planted. L.A. Conservation Corps can walk you through the permitting process as needed. (Trees are not planted in the summer to protect the trees from heat, but summer is a great time to do surveying.) 6. Provide L.A. Conservation Corps with funding to pay L.A. Bureau of Street Services (BSS) for necessary permits. L.A. Conservation Corps can act as a liason between the Neighborhood Council and BSS through the approval process. 7. Announce your tree planting day to your community – contact local schools for volunteers. Let L.A. Conservation Corps know that you can provide support. 8. Care for and water the trees! Well-cared for trees are successful trees.
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CONTACTS
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On average, trees cost $200-$300 for materials and labor, BUT… • For many areas in Los Angeles, non-profit partners, such as L.A. Conservation Corps will deliver and plant trees in commerical and residential areas for free. The concrete cut fee for tree plantings is about $260 per cut. (Planting trees in greenways is less expensive than in concrete.) Note: Aside from street trees, L.A. Conservation Corps also provides free shade trees for residential properties. Contact L.A. Conservation Corps to request more information. Note: LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) provides free trees for residential customers. Trees help reduce energy costs for homes due to shading and cooler area temperatures. L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP): www.ladwp.com/ ladwp/areaHomeIndex.isp?contentid=LADWP_GREENLA_SCID Million Trees L.A.: http://www.milliontreesla.org/mtpartners.htm State of California, Urban Greening Grants: http://www.sgc.ca.gov/ urban_greening_grants.html L.A. Conservation Corps: www.lacorps.org, Meghan Shearer, 323.664.9196 ext. 102, mshearer@lacorps.org L.A. Bureau of Street Services (BSS), Urban Forestry Division: 213.847.3077, http://www.ci.la.ca.us/BOSS/UrbanForestryDivision/ index.htm
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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Closing Streets Host a Block Party, Farmers’ Market, or street closure‌
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Photo: Sasha Wisotsky
- Improve availability of fresh food options - Create public places for people to gather and interact - Strengthen local economy by keeping dollars local
ACTIONS
COSTS
CONTACTS
1. Decide on the type of event you want to have. Will this be a one time event or a regular event, like a Farmers’ Market? 2. Find a sponsor for the event to request a permit. A sponsor or cosponsor must be a person or organization that owns/leases property on the block of your proposed event. 3. Obtain petition signatures from 51% of people/businesses on the block or blocks of the street closure. (What type of permit do you need? One-time event or Ongoing? See: http://bsspermits.lacity.org/ spevents/common/petition_forms.cfm#petitions) 4. Submit a complete application for a permit to Bureau of Street Services (BSS). Apply at least 45 days before the event to pay the lowest fees. 5. Include evidence of insurance for the event. See: http://cao.lacit y.org/ risk/ACORD25-CityofLA.pdf 6. Complete and submit the “Hold Harmless Form.” See: http://bsspermits. lacity.org/spevents/common/forms/hold_harmless_agreement.pdf 7. Pay permitting fees to BSS for all related departments. (BSS coordinates with other City agencies, such as Fire, Police Department, Department of Transportation, and Building & Safety. These agencies estimate the cost for the event and report to BSS.) 8. Find volunteers to help promote, set-up and work at the event.
One time event approvals »» Standard Permit fee ($312) + fees from other agencies ($200 and up) + $216 if any items are being sold at the event. Farmers’ Market approvals »» Permit fees + one time signage fee (for permanent LADOT signs): • Department of Building & Safety: $275 • Bureau of Street Services: $528 • L.A. Fire Department : $624 • Total Permit Fees: $1,427 + (average sign fee) • Average Sign Fee: $1,730 (low $357 and high $3,564) Insurance »» If the sponsor doesn’t have insurance, you can obtain it through a City partner. The cost can be anywhere from $200+. Call BSS for a quote.
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Bureau of Street Services (BSS): (213). 847.6000, http://bsspermits. lacity.org/ California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets: http:// cafarmersmarkets.net/index2.html UC Small Farm Program: http://sfp.ucdavis.edu/farmers_market/ cicLAvia*: http://ciclavia.wordpress.com/ (1st L.A. event, Oct. 2010)
* cicLAvia is a volunteer coalition of bike educators, transportation experts, academics, and artists who are working to make Sundays in L.A. car-free with several miles of streets closed to cars and geared to the pedestrian, bicyclist, skater, etc. Add your Neighborhood Council to the list of councils that officially endorse cicLAvia.
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- Increase green space in your community - Create educational resources for children - Increase access to healthy, local food - Create garden space in urban areas 12
Photo: Emerson Green Team http://blogs.inlandsocal.com/emerson/
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Learning Gardens
ACTIONS
COSTS CONTACTS
1. Identify a group of committed volunteers interested in creating a community garden. Seek out volunteers from all age groups. 2. Identify a parcel for the garden on which you can plant. (Are there parcels in your neighborhood that are owned by government agencies with which you could partner? A parcel owned by LAUSD? Caltrans, L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP) or the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks? 3. Meet with your City Council Field Deputy to help connect you to area contacts and resources. 4. Draw a design concept for the garden (or have one drawn for you) that you can share with the Council Field Office or with a funder, like Home Depot. To do this, connect to support from above or from experts in your community. Consider a design competition to draw up plans for the garden. Contact the LA AIA Urban Design Committee for potential volunteers. 5. Partner with non-profit organizations committed to working in schools and community gardens. They may have connections to master gardeners and/or educators that can support this effort and help to organize planting and educational components. 6. Connect with local schools to engage students in garden maintenance and learning. Maintenance and upkeep are critical to success. »»
Cost of materials varies greatly depending on the size and location of the garden. Costs can run from $2,500 up to $50,000. Some of the materials and initial labor costs may be paid for by the funding sources listed below.
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L.A. Community Garden Council: http://www.lagardencouncil.org Garden School Foundation: http://gardenschoolfoundation.org. Community Services Unlimited: http://www.csuinc.org/ American Community Garden Association’s resources and best practices: http://www.communitygarden.org/index.php American Institute of Architects (AIA), Urban Design Committee: (213) 639- 0770. L.A. Conservation Corps’ Community Garden Program: Constructs garden beds at schools, housing developments and public parks throughout the City. www.lacorps.org Contact: Alex Lopez, (323) 5261460, alopez@lacorps.org The Home Depot Foundation: http://www.homedepotfoundation. org/grants.html The Captain Planet Foundation: Grants to projects with environmental education opportunities for youth: http:// captainplanetfdn.org USDA Community Food Projects Grants Program: http://www.csrees. usda.gov/nea/food/sri/hunger_sri_awards.html EPA Environmental Education Grants: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/ grants_apply.html
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Bike Parking
Increase safety, mobility and bicycling access in your community.
Bikes are 66% more efficient than cars, even after factoring the energy to produce the extra food a cyclist needs to fuel themself.
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Businesses can expand their client base and improve customer satisfaction by providing convenient bike parking nearby. - NYC DOT
ACTIONS
1. Identify areas in your neighborhood that are most in need of bike racks. Think about your neighborhood’s commercial corridors, grocery stores, shopping centers, and smaller stores. 2. Contact businesses in those areas: Do they want nearby bike parking? Let them know that your Neighborhood Council supports the idea of improving bike infrastructure on sidewalks and on private property*. 3. To get bike racks installed on public property through L.A. Department of Transportation (LADOT), inform these businesses how to request bike parking through LADOT or offer to contact LADOT on their behalf. 4. Complete a bike rack request form (http://www.bicyclela.org/ RackRequest.htm) or contact LADOT to walk you through a larger application. You will need the following information: name of business, contact name, telephone number, street address, nearest cross street, number of racks requested, and Council District number. LADOT will then visit the site to see if a bike rack is appropriate on the sidewalk near the business. LADOT will not install bike racks where they will prevent pedestrians from using the sidewalk. * To get bike racks on private property, encourage business owners to add safe and secure bike parking on their property. Adding bike parking is a cost-effective way to add customer parking. For developers seeking LEED accreditation for their building, bike parking helps earn points for LEED. Check LADOT guidelines and consult your local bike experts before purchasing and installing bike racks.
COSTS CONTACTS
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U-shaped bike racks are FREE from LADOT. The cost of bike racks vary according to the size and type. Expect to spend $100 (for smaller racks) and up to $400 (for larger versions). These costs do not include installation.
Cicle.org resources: http://www.cicle.org/enter/la_resources.html Department of City Planning: The Draft Citywide Bike Master Plan for L.A., which will specify the direction for investments in bike infrastructure in LA. ,was released at the end of 2010. Neighborhood Councils should can submit their comments on the Draft Plan. City Council: Let your City Council Field Deputy know if your neighborhood is interested in the “bike corral” program (starting in the Highland Park Neighborhood). Bicycle Kitchen: http://www.bicyclekitchen.com Bike Oven: http://bikeoven.com/ L.A. Department of Transportation (LADOT), Bicycle Services: http://www.bicyclela.org/Parking.htm, 213-972-4972. L.A. City may fund and/or receive federal & state funding for more bike infrastructure projects once the Bike Master Plan is approved.
Design Strategies and Resources for More Livable Neighborhoods
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Greening the Pavement
Convert under used pavement into pocket parks, planters, seating areas or permeable paving.
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Photo: Sasha Wisotsky
Cool and greened pavement can indirectly help reduce energy consumption, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. It can improve stromwater management and water quality, increase surface durability, enhanced night-time illumination, and reduce noise.
ACTIONS
1. Take a walk in your neighborhood. Identify properties with under-used pavement. Consider under-used parking lots and/or under-utilized right-of-way on very wide streets. Identify alleys in your neighborhood that are under-used, need repair, or are gated. Make a list, take photos, or mark the locations on a map. 2. Talk to your City Council Field Deputy. Describe the opportunities you found for more green space in your neighborhood. Discuss opportunities to participate in a Green Alleys pilot program that converts under-used alleys to shared green space. Collaborate with property owners seeking to replace pavement with permeable surfaces. Ask for their support to turn pavement into parks. The Council Field Office can work to obtain grants and state funding for parks. 3. Contact L.A. Conservation Corps to discuss options and explain what your Neighborhood Council wants to achieve. L.A. Conservation Corps has built literacy gardens in schools, small urban parks, and community “living room” projects with outdoor furniture – removing concrete to create parks. 4. Follow-up with property owners, your Council Field Deputy and others involved in creating this opportunity.
COSTS
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Cutting, removing and disposing asphalt costs roughly $10 per square foot if your Council works with the L.A. Conservation Corps. After the asphalt removal, further costs depends on what you want to achieve: • More expensive - Literacy Parks/Gardens can range from $25,000 to $250,000. • Less expensive – L.A. Conservation Corps works on” community living room” projects that install outdoor benches and furniture along streets.
Public: City Council, L.A. Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of City Planning, Building and Safety, Public Works. (Dial 3-1-1) Private: Local business and property owners. Non-Profit: L.A. Conservation Corp: www.lacorps.org Los Angeles Parks Foundation: www.laparksfoundation.org People for Parks Foundation: http://www.peopleandparks.org Urban Park Coalition: http://www.nrpa.org/ The Hollywood Business Improvement District Green Alleys Program: http://www.hollywoodbid.org CA Natural Resources Urban Greening Projects: http://resources. ca.gov/bonds/apply2010/apply.php Home Depot Foundation: http://www.homedepotfoundation.org Surfrider Ocean Friendly Gardens Program: http:// oceanfriendlygardens.blogspot.com
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In April 2010, L.A. City Council voted to set 10% of Measure R funds for pedestrian and bicycle projects. This will amount to approximately $3.3 million in 2011. While changing traffic flow and street design can be challenging on the neighborhood level, Neighborhood Councils can: - Advocate for these programs in their community - Educate their communtiy about shared street sconcepts - Participate in inexpensive pilot projects 18
Photo: Credit Unknown
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Street Promote pedestrian and bike safety through changes in the Safety design of the street.
ACTIONS
Signage: »» Request up to 110 free “Watch the Road” signs from Operation Traffix. Signs can include the name of your Neighborhood Council. Operation Traffix gives presentations to Neighborhood Councils upon request. Their website includes other free promotional items- brochures, notepads and wristbands. Stop Signs and Crosswalks: »» Contact your L.A. Department of Transportation (LADOT) District office. The office will obtain information about the crosswalk and/or stop sign request, including the location, etc. At their discretion, LADOT will send out someone to do a site visit and see if the request warrants action. Crosswalks are only installed in areas with heavy and existing pedestrian traffic. Traffic Calming Streetscaping »» LADOT and Bureau of Street Services (BSS) previously funded the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and the Special Project Neighborhood Improvement Program, which provided a comprehensive approach to neighborhood traffic management including the installation of roundabouts, landscaping, speed bumps, etc. These programs are no longer funded. Let your City Council office know that it is a priority for your neighborhood to see these programs re-instated. Bike Sharrows »» Inform LADOT and your City Council office that your neighborhood wants “Bicycle Sharrows*” painted in your neighborhood once the pilot project ends. Contact 3-1-1.
COSTS
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There is no cost to install stop signs, crosswalks, or bike sharrows. Traffic calming measures such as roundabouts, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, sidewalk extensions and Neighborhood Traffic Management Plans require petitions from at least 10 households sent to your LADOT District Office.
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L.A. Department of Transportation (LADOT): http://www.ladot.lacity. org/contact_us.htm Watch the Road: http://watchtheroad.org/contact.htm Bureau of Street Services (BSS): www.ci.la.ca.us/BOSS City Council Field Office: www lacity.org/YourGovernment/ CityCouncil L.A. Sharrows Pilot Program (See LADOT) Operation Traffix: http://watchtheroad.org/YardSigns.htm L.A. County Bike Coalition: www.la-bike.org City Repair: www.cityrepair.org NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) – Sustainable Streets Manual: www.nyc.gov/html/dot/about/streetplan.shtml
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*A “sharrow” is a roadway marking that indicates a bike path area (typically a bike with two arrows, painted on the asphalt).
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Š 2011 Prepared by: Sasha Wisotsky
UCLA Masters Candidate in Urban Planning, School of Public Affairs
SHERIDAN / HAWKES COLLABORATIVE los angeles, california www.sheridanhawkes.com