In the midst of planning train lines, widening the 405 and other ongoing  transit projects in and around Rancho Park and West LA, the city is also undertaking a comprehensive study of transportation issues on the Westside to form the basis of  what they are calliing the Westside Mobility Plan, a forward-looking blueprint that will offer strategies addressing issues like how to get across town and where to park over the next 25 years.

In the meantime, maybe they can supply us with stress-management strategies to use when the streets for getting across town actually appear to be the parking lots!

Joking aside, this is an ambitious project with a website and Facebook page to boot. Our friends at the Westwood South of Santa Monica Homeowners Association provided a nice overview and update of the project, along with upcoming dates for community information meetings. I've copied it below.

Westside Mobility Plan

Westside Mobility Study Update - Community Meetings

In response to transportation issues in the Westside, the City Council has requested a comprehensive study to develop potential short term solutions as well as long-term plans to address congestion and mobility challenges within this section of the city. This study will result in the Westside Mobility Plan, a transportation blueprint that will offer strategies for multimodal travel, north-south transit connections and parking solutions over the next 25 years.

A primary objective of the plan is to increase the passenger-carrying capacity and efficiency of the transportation system through multimodal solutions, including transit, bicycle and pedestrian friendly facilities. The study will require new ways to measure and evaluate the transportation system by considering measures such as a variety of transportation choices, vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions in addition to traditional level of service measurements.

The Westside Mobility Plan will feature six project sections that include:

-  Westside Transportation Demand Model
-  Westside Mobility and Rail Connectivity Study
-  Westside Parking Study
-  Coastal Transportation Corridor Specific Plan Update
-  West LA Transportation Specific Plan Update
-  Livable Boulevards

The parking portion of the Westside Mobility Plan began earlier this year to evaluate parking deficiencies on the Westside with the intent to develop solutions such as additional parking, parking pricing and management strategies.

The project team is now beginning the Westside Mobility and Rail Connectivity Study which will look at potential transportation improvements and programs to enhance system capacity, reduce vehicle trips and miles traveled, and improve rail and transit connectivity.

Three identical community open house meetings will be held to introduce this component of the project to
the community, to present the objectives of the study and an overview of existing and future conditions,
and to solicit input on issues and solutions affecting travelers on the Westside. An update on the parking
study will also be provided.

Monday, June 13, 2011
6 - 8 p.m.
Oakwood Recreation Center
767 California Street
Venice, CA 90291

Monday, June 20, 2011
6 - 8 p.m.
Westchester Municipal Building
7166 W. Manchester Avenue, Room 9

Wednesday, June 29, 2011
6 - 8 p.m.
Felicia Mahood Senior Citizen Center
11338 Santa Monica Boulevard