Traffic, Transportation, and Development Plan
Despite Irvine’s core philosophy and tradition as a city committed to smart planning, city leaders have continually failed to adequately plan for massive infusions of traffic. Every day, thousands of commuters travel through Irvine to their workplace destinations in our city. Residents increasingly see previously-uncrowded residential streets being used as commuter thoroughfares for cars avoiding highway traffic. In addition, unchecked residential development has led to overcrowded schools, frustrated commutes, and congested shopping centers.
Traffic poses a real threat to Irvine’s special character as a city devoted to a great quality of life for families and residents. On some streets, traffic volumes have increased by as much as 28 percent or more in the last 10 years[1]with few improvements to Irvine’s traffic mitigation strategies. In the same period, OCTA has cut transit service by as much as 20 percent in some areas[2].
Instead of taking action, the current council has offered only empty promises, delays, and “studies” that go nowhere. They installed a “traffic czar” and a toothless traffic commission that does nothing to fix the problem and offers no solutions to these very real issues. Irvine residents are demanding action. No more delays. No more studies.
My plan is achievable, and if elected, I will submit it on day one and agendize it for my very first council meeting. As a working mom and Irvine business owner, I know firsthand the frustrations of extended commutes. The essential elements of my plan, which is designed to offer both relief and safety to Irvine’s residents and commuters, are:
-Bring back Irvine’s original commitment to careful planning on all new housing development projects to maintain the master plan’s village concept, including walkable access to childcare, K-12 schools, and after-school programs, and closer proximity to shopping, dining, and grocery stores.
- Increase on-site childcare options for working parents throughout Irvine to remove added trips for commuters, especially at peak traffic times.
- Work with the local school districts to increase options for students and parents including: staggered drop-off and pickup time and locations, safe and reliable carpooling options, safer bicycle routes, and increased shuttle options.
- Provide an “all-of-the-above” directive to the city’s traffic commission and planning staff so they are focused on fixing this problem with all transit options on the table, including:
- implementing ride-sharing options and stops in both commerce and residential centers
- increasing clean transportation options and mass transit
- expanding the ishuttle program
- increasing shuttle routes from transit centers to business hubs
- increasing connectivity, bridges, and lane-safety improvements for bicycles and pedestrians
- partnering with businesses to incentivize employee use of public and active transportation
- requiring public and active transportation stops for all new commercial and residential construction
- Partner with state and regional groups to demand Irvine receives its fair share of funding from SB1, the $54 billion infrastructure package passed by the state meant to fix roads, freeways, and bridges across California to provide immediate relief for commuters.
- Provide real deadlines and enforcement actions to the traffic commission if they fail to take action.
There are many innovative solutions that have been implemented across America in cities dealing with similar issues. There's no shortage of ideas on this topic, what's lacking is leadership. Unfortunately, the current council has lost focus on addressing these very serious issues and ignored the growing concerns of our community. My life's work has been to implement solutions, rather than just study them, and I make that same commitment to Irvine residents.
[1]http://www.octa.net/pdf/2018-ADT.pdf
[2]https://www.scpr.org/news/2015/11/30/55888/oc-proposal-to-win-back-bus-riders-shorter-waits-b/
Traffic poses a real threat to Irvine’s special character as a city devoted to a great quality of life for families and residents. On some streets, traffic volumes have increased by as much as 28 percent or more in the last 10 years[1]with few improvements to Irvine’s traffic mitigation strategies. In the same period, OCTA has cut transit service by as much as 20 percent in some areas[2].
Instead of taking action, the current council has offered only empty promises, delays, and “studies” that go nowhere. They installed a “traffic czar” and a toothless traffic commission that does nothing to fix the problem and offers no solutions to these very real issues. Irvine residents are demanding action. No more delays. No more studies.
My plan is achievable, and if elected, I will submit it on day one and agendize it for my very first council meeting. As a working mom and Irvine business owner, I know firsthand the frustrations of extended commutes. The essential elements of my plan, which is designed to offer both relief and safety to Irvine’s residents and commuters, are:
-Bring back Irvine’s original commitment to careful planning on all new housing development projects to maintain the master plan’s village concept, including walkable access to childcare, K-12 schools, and after-school programs, and closer proximity to shopping, dining, and grocery stores.
- Increase on-site childcare options for working parents throughout Irvine to remove added trips for commuters, especially at peak traffic times.
- Work with the local school districts to increase options for students and parents including: staggered drop-off and pickup time and locations, safe and reliable carpooling options, safer bicycle routes, and increased shuttle options.
- Provide an “all-of-the-above” directive to the city’s traffic commission and planning staff so they are focused on fixing this problem with all transit options on the table, including:
- implementing ride-sharing options and stops in both commerce and residential centers
- increasing clean transportation options and mass transit
- expanding the ishuttle program
- increasing shuttle routes from transit centers to business hubs
- increasing connectivity, bridges, and lane-safety improvements for bicycles and pedestrians
- partnering with businesses to incentivize employee use of public and active transportation
- requiring public and active transportation stops for all new commercial and residential construction
- Partner with state and regional groups to demand Irvine receives its fair share of funding from SB1, the $54 billion infrastructure package passed by the state meant to fix roads, freeways, and bridges across California to provide immediate relief for commuters.
- Provide real deadlines and enforcement actions to the traffic commission if they fail to take action.
There are many innovative solutions that have been implemented across America in cities dealing with similar issues. There's no shortage of ideas on this topic, what's lacking is leadership. Unfortunately, the current council has lost focus on addressing these very serious issues and ignored the growing concerns of our community. My life's work has been to implement solutions, rather than just study them, and I make that same commitment to Irvine residents.
[1]http://www.octa.net/pdf/2018-ADT.pdf
[2]https://www.scpr.org/news/2015/11/30/55888/oc-proposal-to-win-back-bus-riders-shorter-waits-b/