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CicloSGVia: A Vision for an Open Streets Event in the SGV 

Picture
CicLAvia is known for being the biggest block party in Los Angeles. With Metro dedicating $2M for an Open Streets Program, this project has the potential of becoming the largest block party in the US of A! It's wildly ambitious but very doable. Not to mention transformative. With the San Gabriel Valley Regional Bike Master Plan currently underway, this is a perfect opportunity to overcome social, cultural, and mental blocks for adopting more healthy & active lifestyles thereby creating a grassroots demand for an improved built environment focused on biking, walking and transit. 

With a much bigger picture in mind, the goal is to redefine the way the USA experiences and celebrates EARTH DAY annually.  The original premise behind Ciclovia was to promote environmental preservation through non-polluting methods of transportation.  The co-benefits of experiencing a life without cars not only stimulates the local economy but rebrands a city's recreational value. Hopefully, we'll all come to recognize Earth Day as the day without cars. 

The GRAND Vision

With proper coordination and marketing, this single event has the potential of attracting upwards of a 1,000,000 people from throughout Southern California.  But how does the SGV attract 1-million people in one day?  Create an all-in-one-day tourist attraction that floats everyone's boat! 

The proposed backbone route spans nearly 50 miles and connects almost every downtown district in 15+ jurisdictions, college/universities, regional parks, rivers and lakes, along with every major transit center and historic site in the San Gabriel Valley. But to really attract the masses, the vision incorporates 3 massive festivals in combination with mini-festivals, sporting events, concerts, outdoor theater, food truck oasis, bike pit stops, and anything else you can think of to make this event a GRAND success. 

Creating an All-Day Tourist Attraction 

Cities on Route

Pasadena
South Pasadena
Arcadia 
Monrovia
Duarte
Irwindale
Azusa
Covina
Baldwin Park
El Monte
South El Monte
Rosemead
Temple City
San Gabriel
Monterey Park
Alhambra
LA County
The success of this Open Street event hinges on creating a viable all-day attractive experience for people beyond LA County. After providing a reason to come, stay and play in the SGV, it's important to consider how people will arrive, stage, and explore. Three major, regional parks have been targeted along the route that are capable of hosting thousands of people while providing parking solutions for out of towners. 
The Arroyo Secco Park (Rose Bowl)
(Art/Music/Culture Festival)
 
The Rose Bowl is a great parking location for folks traveling from Western Los Angeles, Ventura, & Santa Barbara Counties. 
Santa Fe Dam
(All Things Health Fair)
Those arriving from the East such as San Bernardino and Riverside County would greatly benefit from easy parking access to the Santa Fe Dam and connection to the route.
Whittier Narrows
(Bicycle Bonanza)
Whittier Narrows makes for a perfect parking destination for all those arriving from San Diego, Orange and South LA County. 

Metro's Preliminary Funding Framework

GOALS
Increase Sustainable Transportation Mode Share (Transit, Bicycle & Pedestrian) 
  • Provide opportunities for 1st time transit usage
  • Encourage cities to develop multi-modal policies
  • Highlight & Promote Cultural Resources
  • Promote public health benefits
  • Allocation of up to $2 million annually
COMPETITIVE PROCESS
  1. Cities are encouraged to partner with other cities, non-profits, and other agencies. 
  2. Applications will be evaluated on their ability to address the program goals based on project feasibility and route setting.
  3. Staff will conduct outreach to stakeholders
PROJECT FEASIBILITY
  1. Event readiness & Community Support 
  2. A council resolution or support letter will be req. for each partner 
  3. Agency/Partnership expertise 
  4. 20% Matching funds 
  5. Existing active transportation programs and policies
ROUTE SETTING
  1.  ¼ mile proximity to a transit station or provide other multi-modal options. 
  2. Regional Draw & Connections between cities 
  3. Proximity to cultural & economic resources 
  4. Topography
  5. Cost Effectiveness 
  6. Proximity and access to commercial corridors
COLLECT & EVALUATE DATA
Grantees will be required to provide a report 3 months after an event which will include:
  • Participation counts
  • Effect on local businesses along the route
  • Portraits & personal anecdotes (collected in person or via social media)

Non-Dependent Groups

Recognizing the scale of this project BikeSGV has prepared a recommended contingency of multiple non-dependent groups of cities to scale down this massive effort. By breaking down the the GRAND 50-mile route into smaller groups of cities, it's feasible and more practical to plan, apply and execute an open street event. After all, it's better to have a smaller event than no event at all. Therefore, if one multi-jurisdiction cluster of cities is awarded but the others are not, that one cluster can still execute an open street event that satisfies the application criteria. But, if all groups are funded, the 50-mile route may very well be possible. For application and preferred route purposes, BikeSGV recommends the following cluster cities: 

1

Pasadena
South Pasadena
East Pasadena (LA County)

2

Monterey Park
Alhambra
San Gabriel
Temple City
Rosemead

3

Covina
Baldwin Park
El Monte
South El Monte

4

Arcadia
Monrovia
Duarte
Azusa

Potential Partners

Regional Community Organizations
  • YMCA/YWCA
  • Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts
  • SGV Economic Partnership
  • SGV Green Building Council
  • SGV Civic Alliance
  • Kiwanis Club
  • Lions Club
  • Rotary Club
  • SGV Conservation Corps
  • Faith Based Organizations
  • Local Chambers of Commerce
Medical Centers
  • So Cal Kaiser Permanente
  • Citrus Valley Medical Center
  • Alhambra Medical Center
  • SGV Medical Center
  • USC Medical Center
  • Garfield Medical Center
  • Huntington Memorial Hospital
  • San Gabriel Medical Center
  • East Valley Health Center

Government Agencies
  • Upper SGV Municipal Water District
  • Foothill Transit
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  • SGV Council of Governments
  • LA County Department of Public Health and Parks & Recreation

Foundations/Endowments
  • CA Wellness Foundation
  • CA Community Foundation
  • CA Endowment

Attractive Destinations

Major Parks
  • Santa Fe Dam
  • Whittier Narrows
  • Arroyo Seco Park
  • LA County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
  • Santa Anita Park
  • Arcadia County Park
  • Peck Rd. Park
  • Whittier Narrows
Colleges/Universities
  • Pasadena City College
  • Caltech 
  • Citrus College
  • Azusa Pacific University
  • Cal State Los Angeles
  • East LA City College
  • Rio Hondo College
Business Districts
  • Old Pasadena
  • Downtown Arcadia
  • Old Town Monrovia
  • Downtown Duarte
  • Downtown Azusa
  • Downtown Baldwin Park
  • El Monte Valley Mall
  • San Gabriel Mission District
  • Downtown Monterey Park
  • Downtown South Pasadena
Historic Sites
  • Huntington Library
  • San Gabriel Mission District
  • Homestead Museum
  • Route 66

Other Destinations
  • Santa Anita Race Track
  • Irwindale Speedway
  • Paseo Colorado
  • Rose Bowl
  • Norton Simon Museum

Public Transportation

This project is not expected to be executed until 2015 or 2016. By then, the SGV should have 3 additional, fully operational Metro Gold Line Stations along the Foothills. With that in mind, the route incorporates 23 major transportation depots in the region
Existing Metro Gold Line Station
  • South Pasadena Station
  • Fillmore Station
  • Del Mar Station
  • Memorial Park Station
  • Lake Ave. Station
  • Allen Ave. Station
  • Sierra Madre/Villa Station
  • Atlantic Station
  • East LA Civic Center Station
  • Maravilla Station

Planned Metro Gold Line Station
  • Arcadia Station
  • Monrovia Station
  • Duarte Station
  • Irwindale Station
  • Azusa/Alameda Station
  • Azusa/Citrus Station
Existing Metro Link Stations
  • Cal State LA Station
  • El Monte Station
  • Baldwin Park Station
  • Covina Station
Existing Bus Stations
  • El Monte Station
  • Cal State LA Station
  • East LA City College Station

What do you think?

Do you think an open street event of this scale is doable? 

If yes: 
  • Who should be a partner? 
  • What else should be included? 
  • Is Earth Day most ideal?
  • How will you participate? 


If no:
  • Why not? 
  • What barriers/challenges do you foresee?

    Thoughts, Ideas, Comments, Concerns

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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. 
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