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LA emphatically was not planned, especially not by an automotive manufacturer. The automotive industry simply colluded to destroy the metropolitis's mass transi
by tomjakubowski 10y ago
LA emphatically was not planned, especially not by an automotive manufacturer. The automotive industry simply colluded to destroy the metropolitis's mass transit system, to be replaced by automobile freeways. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_con...
Despite this, and contrary to the stereotypes, the LA Metro is actually dead last in the US in freeway lane miles per resident. See http://freakonomics.com/2009/02/24/los-angeles-transportation-facts-and-fiction-freeways/ http://freakonomics.com/2009/02/24/los-angeles-transportatio...
- CalRobert 10y agoMuch of modern LA was inadvertently planned to be auto-dependent through parking minimums, single-use zoning, and before that, redlining. All of those shape neighborhoods and structures. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/housing-discrimination-redlining-maps/ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/housing-discrimin... [edit: redlining didn't necessarily cause auto-dependence but it is an example of planning] After all, if every structure has to have 2 parking spots per apartment, you'll get far, far fewer apartments in the same space, forcing things to sprawl. https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/420062 https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/420062 I think they might finally be learning though. The Expo line goes to the beach now. And they spent $1 billion+ to widen Sepulveda pass and now it's slower than it was before. Perhaps next time they'll put rail in instead.