In case you didn't know yet, the SGV Regional Bike Master Plan Project now has its own website!  As a result, we'll be phasing out use of this blog and shifting updates and project info over to www.DObikePlan.com. Be sure to check out the new project page for updates, upcoming meetings and how to get involved!  

Yet another unanimous endorsement of the SGV Bike Master Plan.  The City of San Gabriel became the final city to approve the bike plan resolution joining ranks with Monterey Park, South El Monte, El Monte, and Baldwin Park.

The votes were cast following a brief presentation by the city's Principal Engineer, Daren Grilley and Project Manager, Javier Hernandez.  Local residents and advocates including Kahui Lim, Manuel Mabra, Wesley Reutimann, Andrew Yip, Jose Jimenez, and Melissa Preciado-Hernandez expressed the numerous health, efficiency, and green benefits as well as relating personal anecdotes to corroborate the cause. Despite a few reticent comments made by Council Member Pu, he quickly noted his support. The unanimous 4-0, YES vote was followed by nominating Council Member Kevin Sawkins to serve on the Blue Ribbon Committee.

All in all, the council meeting in San Gabriel was another victory toward the development of a bike-friendly SGV. Although each city has voted to endorse the regional bike plan, there is still much work to do. Stay tuned for the following steps.

Written by Kahui Lim
Edited by Javier Hernandez

Over the past couple of days, El Monte and Baldwin Park joined the short list of participating cities in the San Gabriel Valley Regional Bicycle Master Plan initiative.

El Monte's city leadership convened for the regular council meeting on Tuesday, June 18th to vote on a resolution that would ultimately endorse the SGV Bike Plan initiative. The final decision came after a 4-0 unanimous vote with one council member noted as absent. 

Helpful to the decision making process, the need for sustainable development was clearly expressed during a presentation by Claire Robinson, the President of Amigos De Los Rios. The presentation served as an update on all projects in the surrounding region along the Emerald Necklace such as Lashbrook Park, Gibson Mariposa Butterfly Park, Peck Water Conservation Park, and Rio Vista Park to name a few. Since the inception of the organization nearly 10 years ago in El Monte, Amigos De Los Rios has fine tuned a vision for natural environment restoration into a concrete "green infrastructure" plan of action to address the many health and environmental disparities that currently ail the San Gabriel Valley. Please visit the Amigos De Los Rios website for more information. 

We are happy to note that the council along with city staff are entirely supportive of innovative strategies including a comprehensive bicycle network, which aimes to improve the quality of life of residents throughout the region. 

The same resolution was considered by Baldwin Park the following day on Wednesday, June 19th.  After a brief presentation and recommendation by Transportation Director Daniel Wall, the council voted unanimously in favor of the project and proceeded to appointing Council Member Marlen Garcia to the Blue Ribbon Bicycle Committee. 

Many San Gabriel Valley city councils have recognized that car-centric development has compromised public health and safety resulting in an echoing consensus for improving environmental conditions. Needless to say, the momentum for multi-modal and active transportation is building and the addition of two more cities to the SGV Regional Bike Master Plan initiative is real evidence. 

The City of San Gabriel is set to consider the resolution, which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2013. 

After a 5-0 unanimous vote, the City of South El Monte becomes the second city to formally approve a resolution endorsing the San Gabriel Valley Regional Bicycle Master Plan. 

The uncontested decision came after an astute observation by Mayor Aguinaga, that his night time bike rides are a bit dangerous due to minimal lighting and tough road conditions. However, the stage was truly set when South Pasadena Council member and Air Quality Management District Board member Michael Cacciotti (also a bicycle advocate) made a brief stop during public comment to present new, green technology. 

June 5, 2013 - Late Wednesday evening the Monterey Park City Council unanimously adopted a resolution officially supporting the City's participation in the San Gabriel Valley Regional Bicycle Master plan.

In doing so, Mayor Teresa Real-Sebastian and Council Members Wong, Ing and Wong underlined their desire to make the community more bicycle-friendly. Mayor Real-Sebastian shared her desire to be able to comfortably bike around town and her poor experience to date trying to navigate City streets on two wheels. Almost sideswiped while riding on Garfield Ave during a weekend family outing  to a local eatery, the Mayor stated she now only feels comfortable taking her bike out for special events like the City's Earth Day community ride or for special trips outside the City.

In supporting the project, Council Member Ing highlighted the need to educate motorists about bicycle infrastructure, citing his experience driving alongside the Spring St. buffered green lane in downtown Los Angeles. Council Member Wong noted how he used to ride a bike to school as a youth, and how a more bicycle-friendly Monterey Park would benefit public health and the environment.

The Council's support was prefaced by comments from BikeSGV co-founder and Board President Vincent Chang, who upon the urging of the Mayor, took a respite from his duties as Monterey Park City Clerk to provide comment as a resident of the City. Visibly moved by the gravity of a moment he had worked long to realize, Vincent stressed that the project was an opportunity for the City of Monterey Park to become a leader in the region on the issue. 

A copy of the staff report and agenda can be downloaded here or via the City website. 

The Monterey Park Environmental and Traffic Commissions hosted the first open house Transportation Summit on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the George Elder Park Community Center.  Regional agencies were invited to present transportation projects that are currently affecting Monterey Park. Approximately 30 community members including the Mayor Sebastian, Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Wong, Councilmember Hans Liang and City Clerk Vincent Chang engaged in question and answer sessions that aroused interesting dialog about each particular project. The projects included:

SGV Bike Master Plan presented by Day One/BikeSGV 
Our very own Javier Hernandez kicked off the presentations with the first public introduction to the San Gabriel Valley Bicycle Master Plan. Javier elaborated on the partnership with Day One and their efforts to align a total of 6 cities to apply for and receive a grant award from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Healthy Eating Active Living initiative. Beyond the conceptualization of the project, Javier also explained the goals, timeline, target areas, and informed attendees of potential policies, programs, and infrastructures recommendations that can be expected throughout the development of the Bicycle Master Plan. 

Interstate 10 (I-10) Express Lanes presented by Metro
The bike plan project was immediately followed by a thorough breakdown of the I-10 Express Lane project between the 110 freeway and the 605 freeway. The recently implemented Express Lanes project is currently in a 1-yr introductory phase to allow a grace/adjustment period for the general public.  The Metro representative introduced the FasTrak transponder, which is an electronic mechanism used to charge Express Lanes usage fees. Unbeknown to the majority of attendees, the transponder is not specific to any one vehicle or license plate. On the contrary, one transponder can be shared within a family, group of friends or office and is designed to promote carpooling. Please visit www.metroexpresslanes.net for detailed information. 

Gold Line, Phase 2, Eastside Extension presented by Metro
Metro's Director of Countywide Planning and Development, Laura Cornejo provided a complete update on Phase 2 of the Eastside Gold Line Extension project that will continue beyond the current terminus at Atlantic Blvd. and Cesar Chavez Ave. in East Los Angeles. The project is considering two alternatives; A) a 4 station extension along the 60 Freeway into South El Monte, Whittier Narrows; or B) a 6 station extension through Montebello, Pico Rivera and into Whittier. An Environmental Impact Report is currently be conducted to adequately evaluate each option. More information can be found at www.metro.net.

State Route 710 (SR-710) Freeway Gap Closure presented by Metro
Perhaps the most contentious item on the Summit's agenda was the SR-710 Freeway Gap Closure project. According to Metro's Michelle E. Smith, the project is currently evaluating a series of transportation options to improve mobility and relieve congestion in the Alhambra, East LA, Monterey Park, South Pasadena and Pasadena area.  The study considers five-multimodal alternatives:

1. No-Build;
2. Transportation System/Demand Management;
3. Bus Rapid Transit;
4. Light Rail Transit; and 
5. Freeway tunnel

The project expects to circulate a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) document and conduct Public Hearing by Spring  2014. A final EIR and decision is expected to be produced by Spring 2015. For more details, please visit www.metro.net/sr710study.

The Spirit Bus System
Although there was no official presentation on the developments of the Monterey Park Spirit Bus System there was chatter in the room that new routes and amenities are being considered. Among the amenities, are front-load bicycle racks.  The Spirit Bus system has not changed for over a decade and improvements are necessary to maintain an effective and efficient transit service, and meet the needs of the community.

BikeSGV and Day One is grateful to be invited to such a significant, regional transportation summit. The turnout was great and allowed for direct and open conversation about very important projects that are ultimately going to affect the future of transportation in the San Gabriel Valley. Needless to say, we look forward to advancing this conversation of multi-modal transportation, especially to incorporate a robust region-wide Bicycle Master Plan. 

Several years of hard work by BikeSGV's all volunteer team has paid off with the award of a 3.5 year HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) grant to fund the development of a regional bicycle master plan in the San Gabriel Valley in project years 1-2, and a youth-focused bicycle cooperative in year 3.

In the coming weeks the list of participating communities will be finalized, with each set to receive a bicycle master plan, educational outreach, and assistance with project implementation, all free of charge. More detailed information about the plan, its goals and next steps will be presented by regional plan Project Manager Javier Hernandez at the Monterey Park Transportation Summit on Saturday, June 1 (9-11am), at George Elder Park Community Center, 1950 Wilcox Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754. 

Especially if you live, work, or ride in the potential project communities - Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Baldwin Park, El Monte and South El Monte - you can participate at this stage by attending City Council meetings in the coming weeks, when local decision makers will have final say whether their communities participate. 

Save the Dates: City Councils to Consider Formal Resolutions of Support (required for participation)

• June 5th (7pm), Monterey Park City Council Meeting, 320 W. Newmark Ave., Monterey Park 91754, 
• June 11th (7pm), South El Monte Council Meeting, 1415 Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte 91733
• June 18th (5:30pm), El Monte City Council Meeting, 11333 Valley Blvd., EL Monte 91731 
  
• June 19th (7pm), Baldwin Park City Council Meeting, 14403 Pacific Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 
• July 2nd (7:30pm), San Gabriel City Council Meeting, 425 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel 91776