 On Thursday June 27th the Metro Board of Directors formally adopted a "First/Last Mile Plan" for the Foothill Gold Line Extension Phase 2B.🛹🛴🚲 😀 Covering future stations in the Cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, and Claremont, the plan is the product of over 12 months of study and incorporates the feedback and input of over 1500 local residents. It is broken into five primary chapters, one for each station city. Each chapter includes detailed station plans, summaries of public feedback, and recommendations for improving access to the future stations. For your viewing pleasure, the team at ActiveSGV has included highlights from one station chapter below, including images, maps, and project renderings. You can view/download the full plan here. However before we dive in, a quick review of some of the high-level takeaways from the 5 community walk audits and public input process (image below). Across the five cities local residents strongly favored crosswalk and lighting improvements, shared/multi-use paths, pedestrian plazas, as well as secure bicycle parking and bike share. There was also a recognition that safe roll/bikeways should connect beyond a 1-mile radius of the station, as 3-5 miles was considered a distance that could reasonably be covered by rolling modes within 30 minutes.  Pomona Chapter Highlights Recommendations for the Pomona station are among the trickiest of the five stations, as the Gold Line will share space with the existing Metrolink station in the City, which is located between several high-speed arterials that are neither pedestrian-friendly nor easily-accessible by other rolling modes. The draft plan therefore recommends a bevy of improvements to improve conditions for people on foot, bike, skate, and other rolling modes. Thanks to ample street width, existing bike/rollways on Garey Ave. and Bonita Ave. could be upgraded to make them safer and more comfortable for people of all ages, improving the accessibility of the future station.
A proposed, new crosswalk with a pedestrian safety island at the track crossing and Garvey Ave., as well as new multi-use paths to the station from White Ave. and Garvey Ave., would further improve access from two high-speed, heavily-trafficked, arterial streets.
North-south access would also be improved by the extension of the Thompson Creek multi-use path into the City of Pomona, a transformation that would provide an off-street corridor for people on foot, bike, skate, scooter, or other rolling modes.  A summary of public input within the plan also highlights a number of other opportunities to create a vibrant walkshed around the City's new station. Examples include new bus stops adjacent to the station to facilitate transit transfers, retail/food service at the depot, wider sidewalks on Garey Ave. south of the tracks, and new street trees to provide shade for people on foot.  To learn more about recommendations for the Pomona station - or Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, or Claremont stations - check out the full First/Last Mile Plan for the Foothill Gold Line Extension here.
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 Teamwork makes the dream work. Here at ActiveSGV, we are fortunate and grateful to work alongside some amazing folks! Learn more about our ActiveSGV team through our new series, Staff Spotlight. This month's spotlight is Danielle Zamora. Today is also her 3-year work anniversary! 1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? I discovered ActiveSGV years ago at an Earth Day event held near my home in North Whittier. It was cool to meet people who were friendly and inviting of others to ride bikes with them, especially since I didn’t feel comfortable biking on the street alone. I followed ActiveSGV on social media for a long time before I made it out to a Bicycle Safety Class held at the Jeff Seymour Family Center and then to a Bike Train. My first Bike Train was the Lunar New Year Bike Train in February 2016 where we rode from Peck Park along the Rio Hondo River Path to Whittier Narrows and Hai Nam Temple. I really appreciated the organizational culture and the types of programs they offered the community, so I selected ActiveSGV for my year long field work and research study for the completion of my Master’s in Community Psychology. I began volunteering with Women on Wheels and on Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Counts, completed a 3 day training with some of my colleagues to become a League Certified bicycle safety Instructor, and was hired in Summer 2017 to work on the SGV Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? What I like most about ActiveSGV is being a part of an organization that is actively working to improve the health and sustainability of our neighborhoods. I enjoy organizing and taking part in free community events that get people moving and connect them with their local open spaces and hidden SGV treasures. It’s great to see new and familiar faces when you meet up for rides in different SGV cities. 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience: My favorite memory is our 2018 retreat in Death Valley National Park. On our second day of riding we biked up an intense hill to Artist's Palette. It was worth the climb for the sense of accomplishment and to explore the colorful rocks. During a rest break at our destination, we played a game of Sardines (it's like Hide and Seek, but only one person hides while everyone else seeks and then has to hide with them). It wasn’t easy searching for someone hiding in a National Park, but it was a lot of fun. We work hard, but we’re also a playful bunch.  4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? I would take them to the West Fork of the San Gabriel Mountains to walk or bike along the scenic road that leads to Cogswell Dam. We would pick wild blackberries and cool off in the river. I would also take them to see James Turrell Skyspace at Pomona College. It’s a whimsical outdoor art installation with a lighted canopy that frames the sky. The canopy is illuminated with changing colors every hour from sunset to sunrise. 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: I can't stop listening to Mitski's album Be the Cowboy. I'm about half way through Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series currently reading Life, the Universe, and Everything. Social Media Handles: Check out my band! @rubbishhousegoons https://rubbishhousegoons.bandcamp.com/   We at Active San Gabriel Valley want to say a big THANK-YOU to everyone who joined us at 626 Golden Streets: Mission-to-Mission on Sunday, May 19! In case you missed it, the car-free open streets event spanned 5 miles across 3 cities in the San Gabriel Valley: San Gabriel, Alhambra and South Pasadena. Here are 6 highlights of #626GoldenStreets we’re thankful for:
And lastly, we want to give a big thank-you to our ActiveSGV team! This was our second #626GoldenStreets event (throwback to our first one back in 2017, 18+ miles), and we were excited to connect new communities to Gabe and friends. According to our event day participant survey, 626 Golden Streets | Mission-to-Mission was the first ciclovia for over half of the event attendees.  With a team entirely based in the San Gabriel Valley, ActiveSGV carries a love and passion for the SGV community. We want to see our communities thrive. With your support, we can continue hosting these fun, transformative experiences right here in the 626. Become a member today to directly support our work. Every contribution helps our work to create a more sustainable, equitable and livable region.
Love #626GoldenStreets as much as we do? Save-the-date for our next 626 Golden Streets event - SGV Streets and Treats - coming up on Saturday, October 26, 2019 in the cities of El Monte and South El Monte! The event will feature trick-or-treating stations along the route, costume contests, and three family-friendly activity hubs. For the latest updates on 626 and more, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @ActiveSGV.  Help realize the City of Pico Rivera’s first protected bike/rollway and a new pedestrian bridge across the San Gabriel River Tuesday June 25th. The proposed Pico Rivera Regional Bikeway Project would consist of a 1.5-mile protected bike/rollway along Mines Avenue (from Paramount Blvd to the San Gabriel River), a new pedestrian bridge over the San Gabriel River, and a bicycle facility along Dunlap Crossing Road.  Most of the bike/rollway would be protected by bioswales, a landscape element used to clean storm water before it goes into the storm drainage system. Drought-tolerant plants will be planted within the bioswales to help retain stormwater, cool the streetscape, and support wildlife.  People on foot, bike, skate, scooter, and other forms of healthy, active transportation would be able to use the facility, which would be separated from vehicle traffic by landscaped islands, curbs or parked vehicles as buffers. The project would also create safe connections to the existing Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River Trails. The new bridge to cross the San Gabriel River would be 14 feet wide for pedestrians and bicyclists, and would connect the west side of the San Gabriel River to the San Gabriel River Mid Trail on the east side of the river. Project renderings can be viewed here, and more information can be found on the City's website here.  Rendering of proposed pedestrian/bike bridge across the San Gabriel River. Take Action!YOUR input is needed! As always, public support and input is key to make streets safer for everyone. There are two simple ways you can do so. 1. GREATEST IMPACT: Attend the meeting Tuesday June 25th and provide public comment directly to the City Council.
2. ALSO HELPFUL: Send written comments to the City Council via email here: zcaltitla@pico-rivera.org
Template Letter of Support (please personalize!) Pico Rivera City Council 6615 Passons Blvd. Pico Rivera, CA 90660 Re: I Support the Pico Rivera Regional Bike/Rollway Project Dear Council Members, As a [local resident, student, employee, customer, etc], I am pleased to support the City’s efforts to make streets safer for everyone. Please personalize. Why do you support safer streets for walking/biking/skating/scooting? The Pico Rivera Regional Bike/Rollway Project would provide safe, separated space for children and people of all ages to walk, bike, skate, scoot, and roll to the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River paths. The project would also provide local and regional benefits, encouraging healthier, active lifestyles and taking a significant step towards realizing a network of safer, more sustainable streets in the City. Thank you for your time and consideration,  |
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ActiveSGV is a project of Community Partners, a non-profit public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.