Comments on: Streetcar Workshops Come to Los Angeles Next Week http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gloria Ohland, streetcar wkshp organizer http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-929 Gloria Ohland, streetcar wkshp organizer Sat, 17 May 2008 17:20:41 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/#comment-929 I believe that streetcars are the next step in the evolution of this city from an auto-oriented city to a transit-oriented city -- it's the connection between transit and THE PEOPLE (the peds and bikes)! I'm organizing the streetcar workshop and have been spending a lot of time in downtown LA recently and I'm convinced it's at the tipping point of becoming a real urban neighborhood! The streetcar could be the catalyst! The whole region is so freakin' afraid of density but I see an urban spine up the subway corridor of dense, walkable, mixed use, mixed-income communities -- from downtown to Koreatown to Hollywood to North Hollywood. These neighborhoods could provide real models for "green living" -- with reduced VMT and GHG emissions. Density means increased energy efficiency -- for buildings and for transportation. Streetcars are particularly interesting because they're not really about transportation -- they're about focusing development and investment along a particular alignment so that you have a walkable, mixed use, high-density neighborhood. It's about bringing the development (and pedestrians and riders) to transit, not the other way around. I think the whole transportation paradigm is changing. We're getting back to the idea of land use as a transportation solution . . . Like in the old days. I believe that streetcars are the next step in the evolution of this city from an auto-oriented city to a transit-oriented city — it’s the connection between transit and THE PEOPLE (the peds and bikes)! I’m organizing the streetcar workshop and have been spending a lot of time in downtown LA recently and I’m convinced it’s at the tipping point of becoming a real urban neighborhood! The streetcar could be the catalyst! The whole region is so freakin’ afraid of density but I see an urban spine up the subway corridor of dense, walkable, mixed use, mixed-income communities — from downtown to Koreatown to Hollywood to North Hollywood. These neighborhoods could provide real models for “green living” — with reduced VMT and GHG emissions. Density means increased energy efficiency — for buildings and for transportation. Streetcars are particularly interesting because they’re not really about transportation — they’re about focusing development and investment along a particular alignment so that you have a walkable, mixed use, high-density neighborhood. It’s about bringing the development (and pedestrians and riders) to transit, not the other way around. I think the whole transportation paradigm is changing. We’re getting back to the idea of land use as a transportation solution . . . Like in the old days.

]]> By: david p. http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-922 david p. Fri, 16 May 2008 18:17:42 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/#comment-922 piocan9 - i hear you. i shuddered every time i read his retort to will campbell's blog duel on the LA Times. the irony of his name is an epic win, however. o'toole indeed. piocan9 – i hear you. i shuddered every time i read his retort to will campbell’s blog duel on the LA Times.

the irony of his name is an epic win, however.

o’toole indeed.

]]> By: piocan9 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-921 piocan9 Fri, 16 May 2008 05:28:29 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/#comment-921 The "real" story oh yeah sure...from Mr. Antiplanner a member of the think tank for devils. The “real” story oh yeah sure…from Mr. Antiplanner a member of the think tank for devils.

]]> By: Anon http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/comment-page-1/#comment-917 Anon Thu, 15 May 2008 22:48:53 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/05/15/streetcar-workshops-come-to-los-angeles-next-week/#comment-917 For the real story on streetcars in Portland, an excellent analysis is here: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8643 For the real story on streetcars in Portland, an excellent analysis is here: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8643

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