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Tuesday September 22, 2020
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will hold four virtual public workshops, from September 30 through October 6, to provide details on the agency’s Traffic Reduction Study. The approximately two-year study will focus on determining if, where and how a potential pilot program that includes congestion pricing and more high-quality transportation options could reduce traffic to make it easier for everyone to travel, regardless of how they travel. Ultimately a recommended pilot will be brought to the Metro Board, in partnership with one or more cities, for their consideration.
To date, efforts to ease traffic have not kept up with demands of long-term regional growth. While the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced traffic congestion for the moment, traffic is likely to return and get worse as our economy and growth get back on track. In fact, traffic is already returning. Over the summer months, the overall travel on our regional freeway system was back to 90 percent of what it was before the pandemic in January. The Traffic Reduction Study is an initiative under Metro’s strategic plan, Vision 2028, to make it easier to get around L.A. and plan for a future without chronic gridlock.
Workshops will publicly introduce and explain congestion pricing, describe Metro’s equity-focused study methodology and present next steps in the study process for future public input.
L.A. County residents interested in learning more about this study and have questions to ask are encouraged to register online for these virtual meetings. The content of all meetings will be the same. Participants will be able to join online or call in. Live translations in Spanish will be available. Meeting dates are as follows:
- Wednesday, September 30, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Click here to register for this meeting.
- Saturday, October 3, 10-11:30 a.m. Click here to register for this meeting.
- Saturday, October 3, 12-1:30 p.m. (Spanish-only presentation). Click here to register for this meeting.
- Tuesday, October 6, 6-7:30 p.m. Click here to register for this meeting
Those who provide emails at registration will receive meeting log-in details and reminder notifications. Participants will not be signed up to receive further communications from Metro. Personal information will not be used for any other purposes.
Special ADA and Title VI accommodations are available to the public for Metro-sponsored meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations and translation must be made at least three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date; please call the project information line at 213.393.3905 or California Relay Services at 711.
When used as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce traffic, congestion pricing can encourage some people to change the way they travel some of the time. This could include traveling at a different time; taking a different route; using a different mode, such as carpooling, transit, walking, biking and rolling; combining and reducing trips or; traveling to another destination.
As part of the study, Metro will engage communities historically marginalized in transportation decisions to ensure the recommended pilot would benefit these communities. Any potential pilot will require a close partnership with one or more cities. Metro will also seek to design the recommended pilot to support economic prosperity, environmental and economic justice and improved public health and safety. Upon completion of the study, Metro’s Board of Directors will decide if a pilot will be implemented.
For additional information on why Metro is pursuing a Traffic Reduction Study, please visit https://thesource.metro.net/2020/09/16/why-are-we-pursuing-a-traffic-reduction-study/
For additional project information, please visit https://www.metro.net/trafficreduction.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is currently providing lifeline service for essential trips and frontline workers. Metro continues building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan.
Metro has proudly pledged to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Health and Safety Commitment Program to help ensure the safe return of transit riders as the U.S. recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
