public transportation, walkability, mixed-use planning, topography, smart growth
As the population of La Jolla continues to grow annually, the city must find effective ways to accommodate the growth and the effects on the community it has; namely traffic and housing issues. As a resident of La Jolla for four years, the traffic congestion along the major traffic artery, Torrey Pines Road, is an issue that the community has been battling for years. Continuously interested in this subject, the community fights to keep its ‘small town feel,’ which implies keeping tourists out of the area and resisting expansion of both roadways and buildings. La Jolla is a community in which is automobile dependent; the canyon topography does not allow public transit to scale the hills and is unsuitable terrain for cyclists. At the same time, sidewalks are scarce and only prevalent within dense residential areas and the downtown district. Therefore, as a member of the community in whom also advocates sustainable and environmentally friendly growth methods, I attempt to analyze the major causes behind the lack of walkability and public transportation within La Jolla, and ways in which the community can accommodate population growth while keeping the landscape from being destroyed. It is my hope that by implying methods revealed by my studies that La Jolla will become a healthier community in which is less dependent upon automobiles and can use smart growth methods to assist larger populations.
Benfield, F. Kaid, Jutka Terris, Nancy Vorsanger and Parris N. Glendening. Solving Sprawl: Models of Smart Growth in Communities in Across America. New York: Island Press, 2001.
Burchell, Robert W. 2006. “Smart Growth: More Than a Ghost of Urban Policy Past, Less Than a Bold New Horizon.” Housing Policy Debate. 11 (4): 821- 879.
Calthorpe, Peter. The New Transit Town: Best Practices in Transit- Oriented Development. Washington D.C.: Island Press, 2004.
Coupland, Andy. Reclaiming the City: Mixed- Use Development. Oxford: Alden Press, 1997.
Daly- Lipe, Patricia. La Jolla: A Celebration of it’s Past. San Diego, CA: Sunbelt Publications, 2002.
http://www.sandag.org ; http://www.walksandiego.org ; http://www.lajollacpa.org
Studies have shown that roadways in La Jolla, designed around the canyon topography, are not designed to accommodate high levels of traffic. Further studies detail La Jolla divided by the topography, with residential areas and business districts accessible by single traffic arteries. This proposal examines ways in which La Jolla can become a walkable community and a more public transit-oriented region while accommodating the canyon topography. The research design is based upon studies conducted by Walk San Diego advocating mixed-use planning and pedestrian friendly streets, as well as in-depth interviews with city planners and residents of La Jolla, census data, and transit information provided by SANDAG. This study will contribute to smart growth methods within La Jolla and the creation of effective transportation methods. The results will be shared with the La Jolla community council to establish a healthier, walkable community accommodating population growth in an environmentally friendly manner.
Studies show that roadways in La Jolla, designed around the canyon topography, are not designed to accommodate high levels of traffic. Further studies detail La Jolla divided by the topography, with residential areas and business districts accessible by single traffic arteries. I have examined ways in which La Jolla can become a walkable community and a more public transit-oriented region while accommodating the canyon topography. Based upon studies in-depth interviews with city planners, La Jolla resident surveys, census data, and transit information provided by SANDAG, widening sidewalks and advocating mixed-use planning in the downtown district enhances walkability in La Jolla. The establishment of an electric-powered shuttle catering to local neighborhoods and the downtown area will reduce automobile dependency. This study contributes to smart growth methods within La Jolla and the creation of effective transportation methods. The results have been shared with the La Jolla community council to establish a healthier, walkable community accommodating population growth in an environmentally friendly manner.
In order for a community to be healthy and sustainable, it must be mobile. Mobility can be attained in several ways, such as public transportation availability, shared roadways, bicycle lanes and sidewalk frequency. Studies have shown that roadways in La Jolla, designed around the canyon topography, are not designed to accommodate high levels of traffic and pedestrian mobility simultaneously. Further studies display La Jolla divided by the topography, with residential areas and business districts accessible only by single traffic arteries. This proposal examines ways in which La Jolla can become a walkable community and a more public transit-oriented region while accommodating the canyon topography. The research design is inspired by studies conducted by Walk San Diego advocating pedestrian mobility and walkable communities. It draws from data provided by resident and city planner interviews, census data, transit maps and traffic information provided by SANDAG. Research proves that use of alternative transit and levels of pedestrian walkability is directly correlated to the distance from downtown and the steepness of the topography. Suggestions include shared automobile/bicycle laneways, increased transit stops, and several traffic calming methods. This study will contribute to promoting an overall healthier community of La Jolla. The results will be shared with the La Jolla city council to establish a healthier, walkable community accommodating all populations and neighborhoods in an environmentally friendly manner.
Evidence will be given from several types of sources. The La Jolla Planning Commission Minutes will be received on January 7th. 2010. The strengths of the minutes will be that they provide local opinions and issues not revealed by literature, as well as outlining the ways in which La Jolla values public transportation and walkability. The minutes will also showcase their priorities on roads and sidewalk accessibility. However, the minutes will be weak because these meeting only occur once monthly, therefore only issues relevant to a given month will be relevant to that month.
Another source of evidence will be the data from the 2000 census, which will be gathered by January 15th, 2010. The strengths of census data will be that information will be accurate, trustworthy, and specific data. Data will also provides statistical data which can be analyzed and reveal crucial transportation and population data. Weaknesses will be that the most current census was in the year 2000, therefore the information is dated.
Case studies from Laguna Beach and Santa Barbara will also be used as comparison data. Strengths consist of case study data providing examples of successful small town transit networks. Weaknesses of case study data will be that these cities are not the same size, topography, wealth or opinion as that of La Jolla, therefore not all data will be applicable. By analyzing transportation and successful systems from other cities, La Jolla can implement their own. This data will be gathered by January 15th.
Evidence provided by a La Jolla GIS map, created by myself, will be completed by January 18th. Strengths of GIS data will be that these maps showcase existing sidewalks, roads and heavy traffic areas. In addition, because I control the data, the map will detail all information relevant to my project. Weaknesses of GIS maps are that maps can only provide certain amounts of data without specifics.
Sixty neighborhood interviews will be conducted in neighborhoods of La Jolla. Strengths of these interviews consist of detailed answers and local opinions, while also displaying local priorities and opinions for a better transportation system. A weakness is that information cannot be gathered by a total population, due to time restraints, therefore only a small sample size can be used. These interviews will be completed by January 22nd.
My project will be discussing the topography of the city of La Jolla and the urban planning of the area as a result of the canyon topography. The area is a large neighborhood as well as a city, containing the hills and canyons of Mount Soledad and the Pacific Ocean as a border. The area under study consists of census blocks 83.12 on the northern coastal side, 83.13 on the northeastern side, 83.03 in the center and 82 on the southern coastal side. All census tracts are within the Coastal block group. The area of study in La Jolla is bordered by the I-5 freeway on the eastern side, the Pacific Ocean to the western side, Torrey Pines Road to the north and the intersection of Nautilus Street and La Jolla Boulevard to the south. Residential neighborhoods are located on side streets off of the major roadway Torrey Pines road, and are situated on hilltop and down by the coastal region of La Jolla shores. The main shopping district of La Jolla is bordered by Prospect Street on the western side, Pearl Street on the southern side, and Ivanhoe Avenue on the northwestern side.
This region of study has several key spatial factors that are bearing upon the research. The canyon topography of La Jolla serves as a road boundary and makes it difficult for pedestrian accessibility due to the uphill slopes of the roads. In addition, the lack of transit routes feeding the La Jolla region limit public transportation access, which in turn lead to limited number of bus stops along major streets. Lastly, sidewalk safety and frequency serve as a limitation on pedestrian activity within La Jolla, as they are only located along busy roadways and are unsafe for long travels. Therefore, due to the topography of La Jolla, the establishment of mixed use zoning would work ideally as La Jolla continues to grow, as it would promote walkability within the region and reduce traffic feeding into La Jolla while accommodating growing populations. Public transportation could more heavily feed the area as it would accommodate residences and businesses, making walking and using public transit a more viable option.
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