Connecting Glendale East to West: Move LA Notes 2

Of interest to Glendale in Move LA’s “strawman” proposal for the 2016 ballot–a new 1/2 cent county sales tax–notes from discussions at the recent day-long meeting with transportation sector leaders, advocacy groups and elected officials:

• 20% of revenues allocated to highway projects as follows: 10% for road maintenance and express lane projects, and 10% for a “Grand Boulevards Program” that would improve arterials with transit and development. (The earlier Measure R allocated 20% for highway capital projects, including “capacity enhancements” and $780 million for the SR-710 Study).
• 30% for rail projects includes “a number of very good options” for new lines (Pasadena to Burbank via Glendale, anyone?).
• Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy plugged the Burbank/Bob Hope Airport’s planned new terminal and intermodal facility during the morning discussion with more than 20 panelists. Citing two Metrolink stops on either side of the airport, Luddy called for better connections to the Red Line North Hollywood Station as well as light rail or bus connections from the downtowns of Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank to leverage the airport as a regional transit hub and improve east-west connectivity.
• The Doran Street high-profile grade separation project** is one of many planned for Glendale. Panelist Don Sepulveda, Metro Executive Officer for Regional Rail, emphasized there is a countywide emphasis now on grade separation / crossing improvements for safety, efficiency, transit expansion and preparations for high-speed rail.
• Several panelists (including the ASO President of West LA College) called for drastically reducing fares or establishing free transit passes for students from kindergarten to college, arguing it would promote regional economic development.

Check out the Move LA photos and recap of the event.

**Glendale Council Member Ara Najarian just announced that he will be appearing with Public Works Director Steve Zurn and City Engineer Rubik Golanian at the Monday, April 7, 7pm meeting of the Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council (at the Glendale Police Department Community Room) to present an alternative proposal for the Doran Street project (featured in this April 2 Glendale News-Press article).