Once again, the ever-on-going controversy over speed limit increases are heading to the L.A. City Council's Transportation Committee (Also on deck is more rail and/or busways in the Valley). Arleta Avenue, Sheldon Street and Hollywood Way will all see 5 MPH increases from 35 to 40 MPH if approved. The latter proposed increase is the most ironic, says Damien Newton at Streetsblog: "... just last week, Burbank implemented a road diet on some of its local streets...which is the exact opposite of increasing the speed limits as Los Angeles plans to do right up to Burbank's doorstep." Councilman Paul Krekorian last month urged LADOT to look into traffic calming measures as an alternative to speed increases, which are part of a process to keep police radar use legal. more ›

The controversial issue of increasing the speed limit along Riverside Drive between the Burbank border and Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks was approved by a L.A. City Council committee in a 2 to 1 vote yesterday. The proposal, which will up the limit from 35 to 40 m.p.h., will be considered by the full City Council on March 5th. more ›

The proposal to increase speed limits on two Valley streets was stalled by the City Council's Transportation committee this afternoon after concerns were brought up by the public and politicians alike. "I've got serious concerns with moving this forward," stated Councilman Paul Koretz, whose district includes the two streets in question, Riverside Drive and Chandler Boulevard, which could be raised to 40 and 45 miles per hour, respectively. more ›

Los Angeles transportation officials and police are continuing their effort to increase speed limits throughout the city, once again with community groups in opposition, citing pedestrian and cyclist safety as well as the general threat to a neighborhood's quality of life. At this week's Transportation Committee meeting of the Los Angeles City Council, discussions will surround raising the speed limits on Chandler Boulevard, Riverside Drive and Beverly Glen Boulevard. more ›

If you've ever driven the 2.1 mile canyon-to-valley-floor stretch of Beverly Glen Boulevard, you probably have noticed that it changes throughout, telling you to go 25 mph, now 35, oh wait, now 30. The city's Department of Transportation now wants to change the sporadic nature by splitting the baby with a uniform 30 mph from Mulholland to Moorpark in Sherman Oaks. "It will be easier for motorists to monitor their speed as well as for the police to enforce using radar," said John Fisher, Assistant General Manager of LADOT. Once an ordinance is drafted, it will be submitted to the Transportation Commission for consideration. more ›

All over the Valley (and soon spreading into Hollywood, Westwood and beyond), speed limits are increasing and not because there is a need for better traffic flow. "Because of state law, when local government wants to use radar enforcement, they have to use up- to-date traffic surveys to justify the posted speed limit," Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, who this year introduced a bill to change the law to help protect cyclists and pedestrians, explained at a press conference this afternoon. more ›

For nearly a year, livable streets activists have been at arms over the actions of Los Angeles officials raising speed limits in the Valley. The city is required by state law to evaluate street speeds and adjust the limits if they want police to be able to use radar guns. Basically, if the study of a street finds that 85% of drivers are speeding, the city must raise the limit. The problem is, the law doesn't consider the public safety of pedestrians or those who live on or near the street. more ›

By law, if police want to use radar guns on streets, cities must measure the average speed cars are going, regardless of posted limits, every 7 to 10 years. If they find that 15% of vehicles are illegally going over the speed limit, the city must increase the limit to allow for radar use. That's what's been happening for nearly a year in the Valley, angering residents and activists who have brought the issue to City Councilmembers who in turn are beginning to show disapproval of the system, too. more ›

Four valley streets with proposed speed limit increases are scheduled to be voted on by the City Council tomorrow. This has livable streets activists up in arms as they ask how can vehicles legally gain more speed while pedestrians and bicyclists are put in more danger, especially in light of a slew of recent fatal pedestrian incidents. Damien Newton at StreetblogLA explains why there is an increase: "The LADOT and LAPD have conspired to raise the limits on these streets because of a state law that requires that the speed limit be set at the 85th percentile of traffic every couple of years for the police to be able to use radar. What has been left unexplained is why so many people are speeding on these roads if the police are using rader currently. Unless limits are being enforced, people will continue to speed no matter what the limit and the limit will rise every couple of years." Whether or not it is acceptable or not to raise speed limits, we'll leave to the transportation experts. What we feel the real problem here is the lack of plans to create a culture of pedestrian and cyclist awareness and respect for the law. more ›

In 2006 and 2007, 400 school children in the City of Los Angeles were injured in traffic collisions while being picked up or dropped off at school. more ›