Tomorrow: Urban Land Institute Presents ToLA2014, Active Transportation for Healthy Cities

Highlights from last year's conference, Transit Oriented Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has been a long-time supporter of the Urban Land Institute. The global non-profit group focuses its research and public relations on creating sustainable cities. It's a home to progressive transportation and urban planners and real estate experts, groups sometimes referred to as Garcetti's base.

Garcetti is headlining the annual conference for their L.A. Chapter for the second year in a row. The conference begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m at the Japanese American Historical Museum. Tickets are still available, here.

There's a host of impressive speakers scheduled for their two panels, including Long Beach Vice-Mayor Suja Lowenthal, LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds, and Founder of the non-profit super planning organization Project for Public Spaces, Fred Kent. You can also see a full list of speakers at the Urban Land Institute website.

Last year, Garcetti announced what could be his signature transportation initiative, the Great Streets Initiative. Also announced at the conference, but overshadowed by Great Streets in the media, was the People St program which will re-purpose underutilized space to return it to the public.

This year, Garcetti will be giving an update on that program and other initiatives to transform Los Angeles into a more livable city. While it may not be directly related, I expect he'll discuss his new initiative to make L.A. more energy independent and efficient he announced yesterday. But who knows? Last year the Great Streets/People St announcement caught everyone off-guard.

The full press release can be found after the jump.

The Art of Go: Mayor Eric Garcetti Joins ULI Los Angeles for ToLA 2014:  Active Transportation for Healthy Cities

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct 29, 2014) – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will join ULI Los Angeles, a District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), for Transit Oriented LA – ToLA – an interactive event unveiling dramatic changes in transportation. At last year’s ToLA, Mayor Garcetti unveiled his Great Streets initiative to revitalize transportation corridors. This year, he will reveal progress throughout Los Angeles.

ToLA is November 12, 2014, 7:30 a.m.-noon, Japanese American National Museum

Downtown Los Angeles. Registration is available at ULI Los Angeles.

The event theme is The Art of Go: Active Transportation for Healthy Cities. Joining the Mayor will be thought leaders in two key areas: Healthy Development and Healthy Policy. They will reveal new ways of activating streets through walking, biking, public transportation and placemaking, and how smart planning improves health and wellness of people and neighborhoods.

“Smart transportation is about far more than effectively moving people through the city,” says ULI Executive Director Gail Goldberg. “It is a crucial tool for cities to enhance the health and wellness of people and neighborhoods. ToLA 2014 will offer inspiring, real-world examples of how policy makers and developers are dramatically transforming lives and economies.”

Participants on Healthy Development:

Homer Williams, Founder and Partner, Williams/Dame and Associates, Moderator:  Bringing a “Portland” mindset and priorities to downtown LA.

Marc Huffman, V.P. Planning and Entitlements, Brookfield Residential, Playa Vista: Connecting a community, inside and out, with active transportation systems.

Bill McGregor, President, McGregor Brown, One Santa Fe:  Integrating L.A.’s first private bike-share program and new Metro stations with the city’s new architectural icon in the Arts District.

Wayne Ratkovich, President and CEO, Ratkovich Company: Redesigning DTLA’s The Bloc for its connecting Metro station, planned streetcar route, backbone-bicycle street, and pedestrians.

Ava Bromberg, Senior V.P., The Reef: Repositioning existing development (former LA Mart) into a complete business habitat with transit accessibility.

Participants on Healthy Policy:

Seleta Reynolds, Moderator, General Manager, L.A. Department of Transportation.  City of Los Angeles: Turning essential infrastructure into safer, more livable 21st century public spaces).

Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, Metro: Bridging the first/last mile gap to connect walking and biking with stations and improve the transit experience.

Huasha Liu, Director of Land Use and Environmental Planning, Southern California Association of Governments:  Integrating sustainability into region-wide transportation planning and funding.

Kate White, ‎Deputy Secretary, Environmental Policy and Housing Coordination at California State Transportation Agency: Catalyst projects that increase housing supply and affordability, improve jobs/housing balance, enhance transportation modal choices, preserve open space, and promote public health.

Suja Lowenthal, Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach: Integrating active transportation models from one of America’s most advanced large cities for bike and pedestrian design.

ToLA will also present a special keynote from Fred Kent, Founder, Project for Public Spaces.

The 2013 ToLA was a lively and inspiring event, documented on this short video recap.

Event details:

November 12, 2014

7:30-11:30 a.m.

Japanese American National Museum

Downtown Los Angeles

Registration Rates: 

Private $90 (Non-Members $120)

Public/Nonprofit $80 (Non-Members $110)

Under 35 $80 (Non-Members $110)

Student $70 (Non-Members $95)