 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.
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 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,   View of the 710-N "stub" heading north to Valley Blvd (Image courtesy of Google Maps)  Concept Drawing - 710 "Stub" in the City of Pasadena (Source: Moule and Polyzoides) The City of Alhambra will consider a major mobility and land-use item at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday March 11, 2019 (5:30pm). Agenda Item #2: State Route 710 Corridor focuses on the potential transformation of the 710 "stub" between I-10 and Valley Blvd. In November 2018 the Metro Board of Directors approved a $100 million allocation of Measure R funds to the City of Alhambra to support the transformation of this very large piece of land that was originally envisioned to become a surface highway through the communities of El Sereno, Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Pasadena. In 2017 the Metro Board of Directors tabled that idea, and directed staff to allocate the approximately $1 billion in Measure R sales tax funding set-aside for the 710 corridor to be used for "Transportation Demand Management and Transportation Systems Management" projects, setting off a local mobility project "wish list" process that we covered here. The shape and form of a transformed stub in Alhambra is still very much up in the air. Potential uses include a regional park, affordable housing, student housing, a transit center for CSULA, or a combination thereof. Any of these options might also include highway access to/from Valley Boulevard, or even a new, more direct connection to Cal State LA. However all of these ideas remain very much ideas at this point in time. The concept of transforming a stub is not singular to the City of Alhambra. On the other side of the long debated project corridor, residents of the City of Pasadena hosted a series of community design meetings in 2014 to revision uses for their "ditch". At that time it was assumed no public dollars would be available to remediate the site, so most concepts called for a mix of housing, commercial space, green space, and multi-modal boulevards to stitch the neighborhood back together via private funding, while still allowing traffic to enter and exit the I-134 and I-210 freeways. The "Connecting Pasadena Project" community planning process received some coverage by San Gabriel Valley Tribune editor Larry Wilson. In Alhambra's case, $100 million in Measure R Sales Tax funding for the 710 has already been allocated to the project, making it far more feasible for public/civic uses such a proposed regional park or transit center to be included in a potential redesign. ActiveSGV has not taken a formal stance on reuse of the Alhambra 710-stub. However given the size, scale, and impact of the project, and Metro's initial $100 million set-aside for it, we encourage that any formal action be informed by robust public engagement and participation, as well as greater analysis of the many options. If you would like to weigh in on this issue, you can do so by providing public comment in person at the meeting (details below), or by emailing the Council via the City Clerk: lmyles@cityofalhambra.org
Agenda Item 2. STATE ROUTE 710 CORRIDOR – F2M19-32 On May 25, 2017, the Metro Board voted not to move forward with the State Route 710 tunnel option between Interstate 10 and Interstate 210. In January 2019, Senator Portantino introduced legislation (SB7) that prohibits a surface freeway or tunnel between Interstate 10 and Interstate 210, and Assemblymember Holden has introduced legislation (AB29) removing the area from Interstate 10 to Interstate 210 from the State expressway system. Both bills leave unanswered questions on what would happen to the area between Interstate 10 and Valley Boulevard, the “stub”. Therefore, staff is requesting direction from the City Council on the City’s preferred use of the State Route 710 stub from Interstate 10 to Valley Boulevard if it is removed from the State Highway System per legislation, i.e. leave the de facto freeway, or explore housing and/or green space options, etc. Staff is also requesting that the City Council create a two-person subcommittee to work with staff and both Senator Portantino and Assemblymember Holden on the proposed legislation as it evolves, and periodically report back to the entire City Council. Recommended Action: City Council take the following actions:
 The "stub" from above (Image: Google Maps)  Wheel-grabbing cracks and potholes, uplifted sidewalks, faded crosswalks. These are just a few of the conditions people who bike, walk, skate, or scoot have to deal with on a daily basis while getting around town. Poor road and sidewalk conditions are also the cause of many preventable crashes and falls.
With recent rains and more rain on the way, the number of new potholes on SGV streets is on the rise, making an active commute even more challenging. You can help speed the pace of repairs and save others from serious injury or death by reporting unsafe street conditions when you see them. It’s an easy way to be a good neighbor and save others from harm. Most cities allow reporting to be done via phone, email, and in some cases even mobile app. Whichever mode you choose you’ll want to be sure to provide as much detail as possible, including nearest cross street. Sharing a photo of the condition can help too. Reporting Damaged Roads, Sidewalks, or Bicycle Facilities
Reporting a Hit-and-Run Call 911.  I spent the majority of my childhood in the San Gabriel Valley, from feeding the ducks at Whittier Narrows to walking the trails at Santa Fe Dam. My memories of this place are filled with nostalgia and love. Moving back to the SGV as an adult, those sentiments remained, yet now they are filled with hope and ambition. When I started volunteering with ActiveSGV I had no idea it would change the course of my personal life and career. I never imagined the organization would play such a vital role in my growth and lead me back to my passion of public health. Now as a staff member, I can't help but feel inspired by colleagues who are committed to fighting the environmental injustices and health disparities our diverse communities face. While motivated, we can’t accomplish our goals alone. We need your support - that is why I am asking you to become an ActiveSGV member today!
Get involved today:
In case you missed it, we are also transitioning our brand from BikeSGV to ActiveSGV! We are shaking things up, and evolving the way we approach health and sustainability. On April 11 we are unveiling our new mission, vision, and logo and can't wait to celebrate with you at the “Every Day is Earth Day Fundraiser”! The ActiveSGV team is incredibly appreciative of the generosity and support of our members. We will continue to provide you with new t-shirts, collectible stickers, bike rentals but more importantly, you will be part of a growing community that strives to make the San Gabriel Valley a more sustainable, equitable and liveable place to live, work and play!  CALL FOR SCULPTORS
Background Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV) is calling all local artists for a first-time project at the SGV Bicycle Education Center and Campus in the friendly City of El Monte. The project consists of the development of a public art piece for the newly transformed Jeff Seymour Family Center, a community non-profit village that includes a playground, over 300 recently planted native trees, and the SGV’s first bike campus or “traffic garden”. Local artist(s) are needed to create a sculpture with stationary piece(s) of up-cycled discarded bicycles and bicycle parts (which the bike center can provide on site). Artwork shall highlight or express the joys of active living as well as the many pressing health problems including some of the nation’s worst air pollution, chronic illnesses associated with sedentary lifestyles, and climate change. Created works shall remain on the campus for constituents to enjoy. With the support of ActiveSGV, artists shall seek to provide local residents and youth the opportunity to help realize the up-cycled sculpture. Project Description The call is open to all artists with minimal or extensive experience of up-cycled materials. Concepts shall incorporate one or more of the below-listed themes.
When selecting your artwork keep in mind the relationship between the San Gabriel Valley’s landscape, it's past, and hopes for a sustainable future. We welcome your ideas and creativity is encouraged. Up-cycled materials and basic necessary tools to create the sculpture are provided. Artwork and labor is compensated monetarily upon the completion of the project. Schedule/Timeline
ActiveSGV retains the right to extend the project timeline. How to Apply Artists interested in being considered should email a brief cover letter and images containing samples of their work to Diane Velez at diane@activesgv.org by 5:00 pm on February 28, 2019.  On Thursday 12/6 the Metro Board of Directors will consider authorizing over half-a-billion in funding to local roadway projects that will result in more air pollution, more greenhouse gas emissions, and more preventable traffic collisions and deaths. 15 public health, sustainable mobility, transportation, and social justice organizations have submitted a joint comment letter (accessible here) urging the Metro board to support more sustainable, healthy, multi-modal transportation projects, as well as outlining some very serious concerns regarding how the project list was developed. StreetsblogLA also summed up some of the issues at stake in this recent post. And AARP California submitted their own list of concerns (accessible here). You can weigh in by joining these groups in speaking to the board tomorrow Thursday 12/6.
Background In Spring 2017 the Metro Board of Directors unanimously voted to shelve its support for tunnel option for the 710-N corridor project. The landmark vote was the latest chapter in over 40 years of struggle over the proposed freeway extension through the communities of El Sereno, Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Pasadena. The Metro Board's decision also freed up almost $1 BILLION in Measure R funding originally set-aside for the 710-N freeway tunnel is being made available to cities along the proposed freeway corridor. It also set off a process which asked project area communities to submit local project ideas to improve mobility (which we wrote about in Fall 2017 here). Specifically, the board's motion directed that the 710-N funding be split up and redirected as follows:
In a nutshell Metro asked corridor cities to pitch two types of project ideas:
In the original Metro board motion, Directors Fasana, Barger, Solis, Garcetti, and Najarian specifically encouraged Metro, Caltrans, and the corridor cities to support multi-modal planning trip demand management. Directors Fasana, Barger, Solis, Garcetti, and Najarian specifically encouraged Metro, Caltrans, and the corridor cities to "pursue policies and actions that would promote smart and functional land use, reduce automobile dependency, encourage multi-modal trips, improve traffic operations, and maximize the use of the latest available technologies to enhance performance of the existing transportation system to minimize impacts of the regional traffic on the communities along the SR-710 corridor.” Corridor cities subsequently submitted a whole range of project ideas, from additional auto lanes to improved bus services. Within the multi-modal categories, cities submitted the following project ideas: Alhambra
Los Angeles City
Los Angeles County
Pasadena
San Gabriel
San Marino
However staff did not recommend a single multi-modal project request for funding, despite corridor cities submitting over $355 million in transit and over $70 million in active transportation project requests. Your chance to speak up is tomorrow in person at the meeting.  Five San Gabriel Valley foothill communities are slated to receive their first Metro rail station sometime around 2026-27. Rather than wait for the new line to be built before considering how people will access the station, Metro has been working with each of the communities - Claremont, Pomona, San Dimas, La Verne, and Glendora - to develop first/last mile station access plans. To solicit public recommendations and feedback into this effort, five station area walks were hosted in September 2018. Information gathered from those events was the translated into a set of draft recommendations for each station. Over the next six weeks the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on those draft recommendations at a series of public workshops. Each workshop will focus on one station, with an eye to refining ways to improve station access by foot, bike, skate, bus, car, wheelchair, and other modes of transportation. Light refreshments will be provided! Hope to see you at one or more of these!
  Future La Verne Station Rendering Help improve access to the future Gold Line stations! Over the next few weeks Metro and the five future Gold Line cities in Los Angeles County - Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas, Pomona, Claremont - will host a series of station walks to solicit input on existing conditions within the walk-shed of the new stations. Are intersections adjacent to the future stations difficult to cross on foot? Are there physical obstacles to people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers? Are there safe routes to bike/skate/scoot? Is there too little shade or lighting along key corridors? Participants will walk together, evaluate the current environment, and envision how to improve access to the new stations. The events will kick off with a brief introduction to the process, followed by an approximately one-hour walk (1-2 miles in length), and debrief. Water and refreshments will be provided. Public feedback will help inform the development of a First/Last Mile Plan for the 12.3 mile Foothill Gold Line Extension Phase 2B, which will identify pathways and physical improvements to help people walk, bike, skate, scoot, and otherwise access the future stations. For more information about the walk series, or to RSVP for a specific walk, please click on the links below!
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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.