City Councilmember Abbe Land responds to West Hollywood Public Transit Questionnaire

Here is West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land's reply to our Public Transit Questionnaire. (We thank her and all the candidates who take time out of their busy schedules to address these issues:

1) Do you support continuing efforts to bring Metrorail to West

Hollywood, and if so, with what alignment?

Yes, any alignment that allows West Hollywood to connect to other lines

and provides our residents an easy way to get downtown and further

west. This would also ease traffic by making it easier for people who

work in West Hollywood to get here from other locations.

(2) Do you support extending the proposed Crenshaw/LAX light rail

line up San Vicente and then on Santa Monica Blvd. to the Red Line in

Hollywood? (Note:This could potentially be a light-rail subway and would provide West

Hollywood with a one-seat ride to LAX.)

Yes, absolutely.

3) As modern streetcars are coming to downtown Los Angeles by 2015,

would you support bringing modern streetcars to West Hollywood on Santa

Monica Blvd, Sunset Blvd. and/or San Vicente Blvd?

I support exploring all options that help connect West Hollywood with

other transit options, and that encourage people to use public transit

I would like to explore the modern streetcar for use on Sunset

Boulevard as well so we can determine best way to align with existing

options and maximize ridership.

(4) Do you support transit-only lanes on Santa Monica Blvd.?

I would want to see and understand the impact as we balance pedestrian

use and bike use for Santa Monica Boulevard.

(5) What are your proposals for improving bus service in West

Hollywood, including Metro, DASH and West Hollywood's City Line?

That we all continue to work together to ensure connectivity, as well

as potentially add lines to best accommodate where people really need to

go.

(6) What is your platform for bicycles in West Hollywood?

I was proud to initiate and co-sponsor the creation of our Bicycle Task

Force in West Hollywood. This is a group of people with varying fields

of expertise related to transportation, bicycling, urban planning and

public safety. I am looking forward to the results of their work, to

seeing what their recommendations to the City Council will be and how

we can best try to implement those. I would really like to see

bicycling become a more viable means of transportation (as well as

recreation) in our city and our region.

(7) What is your platform for pedestrians in West Hollywood?

The city undertook the renovations of Santa Monica and Sunset

Boulevards to improve pedestrian activity and ambiance, and I think the

quality and impact of that work is clear. Our General Plan that is

currently being updated will add more language about the need to

enhance and maintain a pedestrian modality for West Hollywood.

I am a supporter of mixed use, as part of an overall effort to get more

folks to enhance quality of life and give our residents and those who

work here real and safe options to enjoy their neighborhoods and our

iconic boulevards without having to drive/park their cars.

(8) Have you read Donald Shoup's, "The High Cost of Free Parking", and

what do you think about it?

I have not read his book, but if his philosophy is about looking at the

true impact of free parking -- i.e., more cars, higher cost to build

housing, less turnover for merchants -- then I share some of his concerns.

(9) How would you pursue additional funding for public transit in West

Hollywood?

West Hollywood voters overwhelming supported Measure R, which is

intended to fund public transit. I would like to look at

developer exaction fees and once we know there is a

feasible option (like light rail), I would be willing to talk with the

community about extra revenue options as well.

(10) What else is in your public transit platform that would you like

the voters and everyone else who lives, works and plays in West

Hollywood to know?

That I am a longtime supporter of alternative vehicles, Flex car and

bike rental/sharing programs; that I am interested in looking at

additional uses of CityLine so people could potentially utilize it for

nighttime use on Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards.

I am a member of the Westside Cities Council of Governments (COG) and

co-chair of that group's Sustainability Committee. I believe we must

find alternative transit options for people, not only because it's one

of the best things we can do for our environment, but also that our

focus on regional connectivity will enhance the quality of life for all

those who live, work and play in our region.

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Blogger's Note: Councilmember Land clearly "gets" it.