Metro Takes the Lead on Fixing Walk of Fame
Last week, the LA Times reported that Metro will be taking the lead in restoring the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For years, critics have contended that construction errors for the Red Line have led to the cracked and raised sidewalks, but despite Metro’s alternate theories, the agency will create a task force to rally government funds for the fixes and donate to the cause itself.
The Times reports:
The transit agency will set up a Walk of Fame Restoration Committee,
which will be asked to also seek financing from corporations, local
businesses and individual contributors, according to a report delivered
to members of an MTA planning committee.The report noted that "the current condition of the sidewalks has
become unsightly and potentially dangerous to the many thousands of
pedestrians who frequent the area."
Ironically, while Metro pledges to fight for better pedestrian conditions in Hollywood for tourists and movie fanatics; it continues to resist efforts to place a 1% set aside for improving pedestrian conditions for the less glamorous communities in Los Angeles in its $40 billion sales tax proposal.
Last week, Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa attempted to assure advocates that there would be plenty of money for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the ever shrinking Local Return set aside. Recent versions of the sales tax expenditure plan have showed the allocation for Local Return has shrunk from 20% in early versions to 15% in current ones so that Metro has more funds for the Gold Line and highway projects. Also last week, LADOT executive John Fisher noted at a City Council meeting that LADOT would likely spend over one quarter of its Local Return funds to balance its budget.
Photo: Tom Lohdan/Flickr