A city famous for its intransigent car culture is bringing in an active transportation expert to run its Department of Transportation.
In July, Los Angeles City Council approved Mayor Eric Garcetti’s pick for General Manager of the LADOT: Seleta Reynolds. Moving south from her current position at San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Authority, Reynolds is preparing to prioritize biking and walking in a metropolis historically resistant to such efforts:
"Social interactions that strengthen neighborhoods and even can strengthen the resiliency of a community to recover after a disaster are improved if you offer people the opportunity to walk or bike to get around. Making those modes a real option for trips that are less than a mile for walking or one-to-three miles for biking is important for a huge variety of reasons."
With the new GM assuming her role this month, The Planning Report introduces Reynolds to readers—from her background working toward livable streets in San Francisco to her stint at Fehr & Peers. Acknowledging the large-scale challenges facing LADOT, she expresses eagerness to take on the job just as Los Angeles embarks on its Great Streets initiative. She notes, "This felt like a place and a time that really aligned with the kinds of projects that interest me the most."
FULL STORY: New LA DOT GM Enthusiastically Accepts Management Challenge
BikeWalkOKC Plan Updated After Five Years of Progress
The BikeWalkOKC plan has proceeded faster than expected after its approval in 2018. A 2023 update is expected to pick up where the 2018 plan left off.
Pensacola Launches Active Transportation Plan
Pensacola, Florida, one of the least safe localities for pedestrians in a state full of them, is seeking public feedback for a new Active Transportation Plan.
Interest Spikes for Active Transportation Grants in Washington State
Applications for active transportation grant funding through a pair of Washington state programs more than doubled, in terms of funding requests, from 2020 to 2022.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
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California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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