Sunroom Desk

When the LA County grant funding the Glendale Safe and Healthy Streets Plan ended in June, city staff reported that plans for a Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee (recommended in the Plan) would be presented in September. Three months later, at this week’s Transportation and Parking Commission meeting, staff had no outline for a committee, and instead offered an alternative: seeking input neighborhood by neighborhood, as they did for the North Glendale Community Plan.

Residents who spoke all wanted the separate committee outlined in the Plan. Concerned about bicycling and pedestrian safety, healthy transportation alternatives, and complete street policies, they told commissioners ongoing citizen involvement and input was critical. Transportation and Parking Commissioners agreed.

Department head Jano Baghdanian estimated staff could return in November (another two months!) with a proposal. Among the issues to decide: how many people should be on the committee, length of their terms, how they are appointed, their desired backgrounds, and what their goals will be. Some of this is already in the Plan; much of it can be borrowed and adapted from other cities’ guidelines. Let’s hope staff, commissioners, and citizens will push to expedite the process.

Right now, Glendale is without dedicated staff or a committee to keep bicycling and pedestrian issues in the forefront. Data collection and outreach opportunities have been neglected. In 2009 and 2010, Safe and Healthy Streets Coordinator Colin Bogart recruited around 80 volunteers to count bicyclists and pedestrians at intersections throughout the city. Two weeks ago, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition stepped in and quickly organized a 2011 bicyclist/pedestrian count for Glendale at just two intersections with a handful of volunteers, so there would be at least minimal continuity in collecting stats.

Locally, there are many opportunities to hear ideas and attend events on alternative transportation, transit-oriented development, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (less cost, more health benefits than new freeways), and more. Here’s one at Metro headquarters next Thursday, and here’s another next Friday. Glendale bicyclists have taken the initiative to attend a 3-day seminar later this month sponsored by the Alliance for Biking and Walking. The sooner Glendale has a committee to collect and expand upon ideas and resources to improve transportation in, through, and around the city, the better.