Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Metro

Activists Slam NBC Universal Project in Times Op/Ed

10_07_08_universal.jpg

The three co-chairs of the community based MTA/Universal Project Community Working Group penned an opinion piece skewering the planned NBC Universal development on an MTA Parking Lot near Universal Studios.  The authors tick off a laundry list of reasons to oppose the project, but there's one that should catch the eye of Streetsblog readers:

Thomas has said that the public should pay for a crucial infrastructureimprovement that would remove commuter traffic from residentialstreets: a 101-to-134-Freeway interchange that could cost taxpayershundreds of millions of dollars. If there's one thing Thomas and GEshould have learned from the events of the past month, the public is inno mood to subsidize any more corporate giants.

Now let's be clear, this project is planned for land that is currently an MTA parking lot.  Before a project of this size moves forward, it ought to have a serious plan, with measurable goals, on how it's going to move people to the site without relying on the automobile.  To  just call it "'smart growth, green growth and transit-oriented development at its height,'' and be relying on cars to move people to the point where you want a publicly built highway project that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars belies any claim that can be made that this is a Transit Oriented Development.

Photo: Hokiefacs/Flickr

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Caltrans Posts Draft Master Plan for PCH in Malibu

Activists agree this plan is a huge improvement over current conditions, but there are some areas where it could be even better.

April 16, 2025

New Bike Lanes on Mission Road and Bonnie Brae Street

New bike lanes are complete on Westlake's Bonnie Brae Street. New partially-protected bike lanes are being installed on Mission Road in Boyle Heights.

April 15, 2025
See all posts