1941 Parkway Plan City Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

8/20/2019 1941 Parkway Plan City Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

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M A S T E R/.P L A N

O F

P A R K W A Y S

L O S A N G E L E S . D E P A R T M E N T O F C I T Y P L A N ; N ; I - N G~


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A ~I0iIAY PLAN:;:;;;;--

FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Depar t ment of Ci t y Pl anni ng J Lo~ l Lngel es , Cal i f or ni a

~ May - 1941


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Sel ect ed Fi ndi ngs , Concl '1. si ons andReco~~endat i ons 1

Resume of t he Tr anspor t at i on Sur vey 20

Recommendat i ons of t he Tr anspor t at i onEngi neer i ng Boar d 25

Si gni f i cance of t he P~~r kv; ayPl an t o t heCi t y of Los Angel es 42

Concl usi ons 46

Pr obl ems Requi r i ng Fur t her St udy andRepor t 52


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1. Panorama of t he Ci t y of L os Angel es Fr ont i s pi eceand Regi on

2. Moder n Desi gn f or Par t i c ul ar Tr af f i cPr obl ems 8

a. Now Yor k Ci t y Tr af f i c Ci r c l e andGr ade El i mi nat i on

b. Depr es s ed Sec t i on o f Ar r oyo Sec oPar' i : ' i : ay

3. Popul at i on, Mot or Vehi cl es and Per sonspor ~! ot or Vehi cl e Curves 16

6. Pr opos ed Par k way Sys t er n and Tr anspor t a-t i on Map 39

7. P ar k way Pl an and Di st r i but i on of P opul a-t i on f or 1940 41

8. Exi st i ng St at us of Par l ~ay Pl an Two Compl et ed ' Sec t i ons ; One Under

Cons t r uct i on 45

9. P l an of Par l ~l ays Ci t y of Los Angel esand Met r opol i t an Regi on 49

10. Cent r al Sect i on Pl an of Par l ~l aysCi t y c" Los A l 1gel es andMet r o~o: i t an Ar ea 50


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F- l The pl an s l l bmit t ed by t he T: cans por t at i on Engi neer i ngBoar d sol ves t he pr obl ems of t he Ci t y i n a mostr eas onabl e manner .

F - 2 P he no mi na l i n cr e as e i n us e o f mo t o r v ehi c l e s ha sn ec e s s i t a t e d r adi c a l c hang es i n de s i g n o f hi g hway s .

F - 3 P r o pe r t y v al ue s de pr e ci a t e a s a r e s ul t o f s t r e ett r af f i c condi t i ons.

F - 4 T r a f f i c de l a ys c o ns t i t ut e a n a nnua l l o s s o f we l lover $18, 000, 000.

F - 5 F at a l i t i e s and i n j u r i e s , whi c h c an be a l mos t e nt i r e -l y e l i mi nat ed by an adequat e par kway s ys t em, havei n c r e as e d ov er 300% s i n c e 1920.

F- 14

F- 15

F- 16

~ gr eat vol ume of t r anspor t at i on i n ve s t i g at i on ands t udy c os t i n g ove r 1 / 2 mi l l i on dol l a r s , has be endev el ope d s i n c e as e ar l y as 1911.

The pr es ent s t r e et s ys t em i s i nade quat e t o ha ndl et he t r af f i c l oad.

P op ul at i on i n c r e as e , bot h Ci t y and Coun t y , has be ena t a hi gh r a t e f o r t he pa s t t hi r t y y ea r s .

Communi cat i ons bet ween pooul at i on, i ndust r i al and

commer c i a l cent er s , pr esent a s i t uat i on whi ch onl yt he most dr ast i c measur es wi l l cor r ect .

By 1960 t he r e wi l l be about 2 , 100, 000 v ehi c l e s i nI. . .: ' ) sA: : : i . gel esCount y

The t r a f f i c pr obl em ha s be en aggr avat ed by t henat i onal def ense act i v i t i es .

Expense f or i mpr ovement s i n 15 ye ar s - s i n c e p r e par a -t i o n o f t he ~Bj or St r e et P l a n - ~150, 000, 000.

The phas es of t he Fac t ual Tr anspor t at i on Sur veycover ed by t he Tr anspor t at i on Engi neer i ng Boar d.

P. S

P .10'

P. 1S

P. 1S


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F- 18 An I deal i s t i c Par kway Des i gn, P.30

F- 19 Tr ans por t at i on Engi neer i ng Boar d Pl an pr ovi d. e sdi r ect r adi a l r out es . P.34

F- 20 Tr ans por t at i on Engi neer i ng Boar d pr ovi des Cr os s- Town Rout es . P.3?

F- 2l Tr ans por t ; l t i on Engi neer i ng Boar d pr ovi des ci r cum-f er ent i al s . P. 38

F- 22 Recommendat i ons of t hi s Repor t : P. 48

1. Thc l t t he pl an os modi f i ed be cdopt ed.2. Thc t t he pl s n be c ar r i ed o ut a t o nc e.3. T ha t c s t udy o f f i n ~nc i ng bo ma de a f t e r c do pt i o n.4. That c . " P; : ; r k wo. yAut hor i t y" be est abl i shed.

1. De t a i l s o f f i n an ci n g.2 . P l ~n f o r f u t ur e r a i l r c p i d t r c n s i t .3. Ul t i mct G uni f i c~t i on ~nd coor di nat i on of f aci l i t i es.4. P r o bl o ms o f t ho CQnt r ! 11 B~' s i nGs s Di s t r i c t .5. B' J . si n os s Di s t r i c t P ' " ' . r ki ngPl nns .


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The mos t pr es s i ng pr obl em c onf r ont i ng t he Ci t y

o f L o s An ge l e s t o da y i s t r a ns p or t a t i o n. A n umbe r o f pr o -

po s a l s a nd s u gge s t i o ns ha ve be en ~a de f o r t he s o l ut i o n o f

t hi s pr o bl e m, but t he mo s t l o gi c a l a nd r e as o na bl e pr e s e nt - F . l

ed t o dat e i s t hat pr oposed by t he Tr anspor t at i on Engi neer -

i n g Bo ar d i n i t s r e c en t r e po r t " A T r a ns i t P r o gr a m f o r t he

Los Angel es Met r opol i t an Ar ea. "

Thi s r epo r t c onc er ns i t se l f wi t h t ho se p r o po sa l s

of t he Tr anspor t at i on Engi neer i ng Boar d whi ch per t a i n t o

t he p l a n o f mo t o r v ehi c l e p ar k wa ys. Ot her p r o po sa l s o f

t he Boar d ' s r epor t , namel y, t he r a i l r api d t r ansi t and

uni f i cat i on of t r ansi t oper at i ons, t he suggest ed i mpr ove-

ment o f t he Cent r a l Bus i ness Di s t r i c t , t he means f o r r e l i ev-

i ng t he par k i ng s i t uat i on and t he f i nanci ng o f t he pl a n

must be g i ven mor e st udy bef or e t hey can be r epor t ed upon •.

Sect i o ns o f t he p ar k wa y sys t em, t he Ar r o yo Seco a nd

Ca hueng a Pa ss , ha ve a l r eady been co nst r uct ed a nd ha ve

pr oven t hei r wor t h . Ot her s ar e bei ng const r uct ed, and r i ght s-

o f - wa y a r e be i n g a c qui r e d f o r s t i l l o t he r s e c t i o ns . I n o r de r

t hat t hese i mpr ovement s may be ~ade accor di ng t o an of f i c i a l -

l y a do pt ed p l a n, i t i s i mp or t a nt t ha t a ct i o n i ncor por at i ngt he s e pr o po s a l s i n t he ma s t e r pl a n o f t he c i t y be t a ke n a s

s o o n s s po s s i bl e . T he c o ope r a t i o n o f t he Ci t y wi t h St a t e

h i ghway aut hor i t i es i n t he execut i on of t hi s p 18p wi l l be

f aci l i t at ed and cons t r uct i on of t hese needed i mpr ovement s

a dv anced by o f f i c i a l r eco gni t i o n a nd endo r sement o f t ho se

3.


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Vl i t h br oad r i ght s- of - way i t i s poss i bl e' .

The r e ar e s ever al meani nf . s app l i ed t o t he t er m

" p ar k way " • The p ar k way i s g en er a l l y un de r s t ood t o be a

pl e as u r e dr i v e o r a dr i v e t hr o ugh a n e l o nga t e d pa r k . T he

t e r m as us e d i n t hi s r e por t me an s a hi g hway i n r e s pe c t t o

whi ch t he owner s of abut t i ng l ands have no r i ght or easement

o f a c ce s s t o o r f r o m t he i r a but t i ng l a nds ; whi c h i s s u b-

I t i s t he dut y and p ur p os e o f t he Ci t y P l ann i n g

Commi ss i on t o adopt and est abl i sh a mast er p l an f or t he Ci t y

o f L os Angel €s . The pa r k wa y s y s t em. i s but o ne e l e me nt o f t hi s

mas t e r p l an. Aut hor i t y t o p r e par e , adopt and e s t abl i s h a mos -

t e r p l an i s s p e c i f i c a l 1y, ' gr ant - ed by t h- e s t a t ut e s o f t he St at e


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o f Ca l i f o r 4i a . T he p r e ambl e o f T he P l a nn i n g Ac t o f t he

St at ut es of 1929 amended by t he St at ut es of 1937 r e ads as

f o l l o ws : " An a c t f o r t he e s t a bl i s h me nt o f ma s t e r a nd o f f i • •

c i a l p l a ns i n c i t i e s f c i t i e s and c oun t i e s , and c oun t i e s f i n d

f or t he adopt i on o f or d i n an c es p ur s uant t her e t o ; p r e s c r i b -

i n g t he mann er o f adopt i on o f s uc h p l ans , p or t i ons t her e of ,

amendment s t her et o and t he compos i t i on and ef f ect s t her eof ;

pr ov i d i ng f or t he appoi nt ment of p l anni ng co~~i ss i ons ••••,

Sect i on one of t h i s act makes mandat or y t he adopt ~

i o n o f ma s t e r p l a ns a s f o l l uws : " Ev er y c 1 t y a nd e ve r y

c oun t y s ha l l adopt and e s t abl i s h as her e i n p r ov i ded a mas t e r

p l a n o f s a i d c i t y o r c o un t y a nd o f f i c i a l p l a ns ba s e d t hGr e on ~

Suc h p l ans ar e her e by dec l ar e d t o be e s t abl i s he d t o c on s e r v e

and pr omot e t he publ i c heal t h , sc : . : t ' et yandgener al wel f ar e. "

The el ement s of t he mas t e r pl an ar e s et f or t h and

de s c r i be d i n Se c t i o n f o ur o f t he Ac t . Amo ng t he i t e ns i n -

c l Uded i n t he def i n i t i on of t he mast er p l an ar e t hose wi t h

whi ch t hi s r epor t i s i mLl edi at e l y concer ned; nonel y, St r eet s

an d Hi ghwa~6' P l a n an d T r a ns p o r t a t i o n P l a n, Q, uot i ng f r om t he

Act : " St . r eet s and Hi ghways P l an - Showi ng t he gener P l l l oca . . . •

t i ons and wi dt hs of Q compr ehens i ve s ys t em of maj or t r Rf f i c

t hor oug hf ar e s and ot her t r s f f i c way s and o f s t r e et s and t he

r ec o. r nmendedt r eat ment t her eof " ; and " Tr ans por t at i on Pl an . , .

Showi ng a canpr ehensi ve t r anspor t at i on s ys t em, i ncl udi ng

l ocat i ons of r i ght s - of . , . way,t er ~i nal s , vi 2duct s and gr ade

s e p ar at i ons . Suc h a p l an may ~l s o i n c l ude p or t , har bor ,

5,


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avi at i on end r e l at ed f ac i l i t i es . "

I t i s who l l y p r o pe r l e ga l l y t ha t t he pa r . kwny pl an

f or t he Los Angel es Met r opol i t an Ar e a 8S pr epar ed by t he'

Tr ans por t 8 t i on En gi neer i ng Boar d s ho ul d be r ef er r e d t o t he

Ci t y Pl anni ng Commi ss i on f or i t s cons i der e. t i cn and r epor t .

The Ci t y Pl [ . mni ng Commi s s i on ac t s i n t he nat ur e c f a c l e8r -

i ng ho us e f o r al l pl ens whi ch per t Ri n t o t he devel opment of

t he c i t y . I t i s c onc e r n ed p r i mar i l y wi t h t he mas t e r p l e n

and c ons t ant l y s e e k s t o i mp r ov e and add t o t he bos i c s c he ae

by whi ch t he gr owt h and devel opment of t he c i t y may be r egu-

l at ed and di r ect ed. The cOf ! l f f i i ss i onwi l l r e vi e w a l l p l ans

p r e s en t e d t o i t f o r ana l y s i s i n t he l i ~ht o f t he g en er a l

publ i c i nt er est , and wi l l det er mi ne t hei r adapt abi . l i t y Bnd

r e l a t i o n t o t he ma s t e r pl a n. I t wi l l a do pt i n who l e o r i n

par t s uc h pl am3 as ar e cons i s t ent i Nit h i t s own Bast e I ' p I on

and t he obj ect i ves of t he P l anni ng Depar t ment and t ht ; Ci t y.

Thi s Commi s s i on i s f Ul l y awar e of t he s i gn i f i cance

t o t he pe opl e o f L o s Ange l e s o f a sys t em of mot or vehi c l e

par kweys . No ot her pr obl em of t h i s vast communi t y i s qui t e

as vi t al as t hl 3t o f t r n ns p or t a t i o n. T hi s i s t he c o ns e ns u s

o f i n f o r me d o pi ni o n t o da y . T r anspor t at i on has been t he

SUbj e c t o f a numbe r o f s u r v ey s and r epor t s dur i ng t he past

f i f t een year s whi ch have soug J " l ti n o ne wa y o r a no t he r t o di s-

cover a s ol ut i on f or t hi s cOI : l pl expr obl em.

On e o f t he € nr l i e s t Gn d f : l Os tcOI ! l pr ehensi ves t udi es

W2S t he 1924 ~l an of Maj or s t r eet s , pr epDr ed by OL~st ed,

Bar t hol omew and Cheney. ffhi s was I J . f nr - s i ght ed p l an at t he


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t i n e i t we s p r e par e d. Many I nn j or s t r e et s i n t he c i t y have

been opened and wi dened i n ncccr dDnce wi t h t he' r ecc mmen dnt i on

o f t hi s r epo r t . The phenom. e na l i n c r e as e i n owner s hi p end F it 2

us e o f t he no t a l ' v e hi c l e , howe ve r , has n ec e s s i t 0 t e o a r adi c a l

c hnn ge i n t he p r i n c i p l e s gover n i ng t he des i gn of h i ghwc. ys .

The s ur f ac e s t r e et wi t h bus i nes s f r c nt r ge Rnd i nn umer ~bl e

t r af f i c l i ~ht s as f e8t ur ed i n t he Ol ns t ed- Bpr t hol omew

Re por t ( , f 1924 i s now out mc de d ~!S on e f f i c i e nt t r ef f i c

c ar r i e r . The pr ot ect ed, At t r 8ct i vc , s t r uct ur al l y s oun d

par kvw. y or f r eer , j ayi s now r ecogni zed 8S C basi c el e! 11cntof

t he noder n ~et r opol i t 8n pl ene


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NEW YORK CITY'S TRAFFIC CIRCLE and Grade Elimination at 7 9th Street and Henr y HudsonParkway pr esents this picturesque night scene. Par k ways, f reeways, an d all ex press highways

ar e des igne d f or ut ility, b ut u su al ly s uc cee d in creating an envir onmen t of bea ut y over their loc al e, as witnessed by a f lower lined section of Los Angeles' Arr oyo Seco Par kway ( below>.

GERMANY'S REICHSAUTOBAHNEN an e laborate 1,330 mile system of e xpress highwaysexpedited that countr y's ear ly military successes in World War II. At ta ck s o n Pol and, t he

Low Countries, and France were delivered with such f ur y an d su dd enn ess that the world marveled . A complete system of parkways would not only assist in the defense of Los Angelesfr om a militar y standpoint, but they would aid in the production of necessary war materials byreducing traffic's waste.


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per oi t t e d t o d i s t r i but e i t se l f i n any par t of t he r egi o n

wi t hout r egar d t o t he pr obl ems whi c h were be i n g c r eat ed. As

hnv o f o l l o wed al n os t i dent i c al pat t er ns . Thi s pr ec e s s i s

desc r i bed by ~I T . E . E . Eas t , En gi n ee r , T he Aut omobi l e Cl ub

of Sout her n Cal i f or ni ~.

" Ea c h n ew s t r eet t hat i s wi de ned f o r t r a f f i c f l o ~ Jdest r oy s c er t a i n pr oper t y val ues en d c r oRt e s ne w ones.Owner s of pr oper t y al o n g r e const r uct ed st r eet s ar equi c k t o expl o i t t hi s no w oppor t uni t y by devel o pi ngt hei r f r ont age f o r bus i n es s pur pos es . Tr ef f i c movesqui c kl y and eas i l y , r e nt a l bus i ne s s c ane s ; t he n c on-gest i c n i nc r eas es r 8p i dl y; and bus i ne s s own er s d emand

9.


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s i g na l s t o s l o w t r Dr f i c pa s t t he i r do or . T he ys ee new, heavy i nves t ment s j eopar d i zed oecauset r af f i c moves t oo qui ckl y t o t hei r downt ownco mp et i t o r s , o r b eca use t h ei r p at r o ns d o notr i s k t hei r l i ves by mak i ng l ef t - hand t ur ns or *f a c i ng di f f i cu l t i es o f p ar k i ng o n t h e b usy s t r eet . f t

Bef or e l ong It r af f i c moved nc


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The~e i s al so t he i t en of t r af f i c cont r ol whi c h r epr esent s

a subst ant i el cos t eac h year f or t he i nst al l at i on and

I i l ai nt enanceof cont r ol devi ces •.

The ever i ncr easi ng t r af f i c acci dent r ~t e i s al sodue t o t r af f i c congest i c n and t o t he al nos t nl l i ~ber l es ssur -

f ace i nt er sect i ons cf t he pr es ent s t r e et s yst em. Tr sf f i c

acci dent s i n Los Angel es have been count i ng year l y. I n 1920 F. 5

t her e wer e 128 f at al acci dent s, 4249 per scnal i nj ur y acci -

dent s . I n 1940 t her e wer e 518 f at al acci dent s, 16, 334 per -

s onal i nj ur y acci dent s . Thi s i s s n i nc r eas e i n f at 81 acci -

dent s cf 305%, and t he per sonal i nj ur y ac ci dent s of 285%.

I t i s i mpossi bl e t o cal cul at e accur at el y and f ul l y t he

econoni c ef f ect s of t he t et al l os s t o t he comnuni t y, but i t

mus t be encr ECUS.

Tr a. f f i c condi t i ons have pr e· duced ot her pr obl ens

whi ch ar e oor e abs t r act , but cer t ai nl y wor t hy of cons i der a-

t i on i n t he c i t y pl anni ng pr ogr an. One of t hese i s aest het i c s

whi ch has been di scussed i n connect i cn wi t h t he chanBi ng us e

of pr cper t y abut t i ng na j cr t hor cughf ar es •. Anot her i s t he

publ i c heal t h. The ner vous st r ai n r eSUl t i ng f r oD dai l y

dr i vi ng en heavi l y congest ed s t r eet s cannet be di sni s sed as

of nc, c( ~nsequence. Thes e f act Ci r s al l ent er i nt o

t he qual i t y of l i v i nc pr ovi ded her e i n Los Angel es.

The s er i busness ( . f t he t r af f i c pr c: bl enh£l S been F. 6

appr eci at ed and i nt er est i n i t i s at t est ed by nuner ous

t r af f i c and t r anspc, r t at i c' nr epor t s •.

I t has been est i mat ed t hat t he f l any vol l l i ~esof

11•.


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1911 - Tr enspcr t at i c i n Pr obl ens Ci t y of L os An ge l e sEi an J. Ar nol d

1920 - Rai l r oaC: lGr nde Cr oss i ng El i n i nat i on and Pass enger

and Fr e i ght Tcr r : : . i nal sRai l r oad Cnmni ss i cn

1921 - Aut or . J . c bi l eCl ub of Sout her n Ce. l i f or ni nJ. B~ Li ppi ncot t

192 2 - L os An ge l e s P l r m Tr af f i c Conni s s i c n

192 4 - Ma j or Tr a f f i c St r e ot P l a n f o r L os An ge l e sOl Dst ed - Bar t hcl onew - Cheney

1 925 - J s i n t Re por t o f t he St r e et Ra i l wa y Sur v eyBoar d of Publ i c Ut i l i t i esRai l r ond COf l Mi ss i cn and Car r i er s

1925 - Cc~pr ehensi vc Rc . pi d Tr Cl ns i t Pl anKel k er - De L euw &Co.

19 33 - Ra pi d Tr a ns i t Sy s t e mDonal d M. Baker and St uar t M. Bot e

1929 - Gr i f f i t h Par k Tunnel P l an Teggm: - t & Webb

1935 - A St Udy o f t he F ea s i bi l i t y a nd De s i r a bi l i t y o f aCi t y Wi de Mot or CODch Syst BD t o Repl ace Exi st i ngL oc a l Tr a ns p or t a t i on Sy s t e ms i n t he Ci t y o f L osAngel es .

Bear d of Publ i c Ut i l i t i es Rnd Tr anspDr t at i on

193 7 - T r a f f i c S ur v ey - L os An ge l e s Me t r opol i t an Ar eaAut cuobi l e Cl ub of Sc" \ ut her nCal i f or ni a

1938- 1939 Repor t of Tr a f f i c and Tr anspor t Qt i c n Su~vey Tr ans po r t a t i on En gi neer i nG Boar d

12.


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1939 - A Tr ans i t Pr ogr am f or t he Los Angel es Met r op01i t anAr e a

1934 - A Repor t of Hi gbwcy Tr af f i c Sur vey i n t he Count y of Los Angel es

Regi onal Pl anni ng Com1i ssi cn

1937 - A Repr , r t of a Hi ghway Tr a f f i c Sur v ey i n t he Count yof Los Angel es

Regi nnnl Pl nnni ng Cooni ssi c n

1931 - Regi onal PI on cf Hi f , hways - Long Beach- Redondo Ar eaRegi onal Pl anni ng Conr : t i ssi c n

1. The popul at i on pat t er n i s unl i k e t hat f eund i n anyot her l ar ge met r opol i t an cent er .

2. Nc I nr ge c i t y even nppr oaches t he hi gh aut onobi l eowner s hi p, ncr t he wi des pr ead us e of t he aut ol ' 1. obi l et hat i s f ound i n Los Angel es.

3. No EDSS r ai l r epi d t r ans : Lt syst er . 1coul d be f i nnnci al -l y s uc ces s f ul i n Los Ant " el es wi t h0ut a s ubs t ant i alsubsi dy or i ncr eas e i n f ar es cher Ge0. .

4. The pr es ent t r af f i c s i t uat i on i s r api dl y appr r achi nga st at e of s t agnat i on.

5. The ar ea of Los Anr el es and t he t opogr aphy of t heregi on Dar k i t as an unusual ci t y.

6. Under t he c i r c u~s t ances i t i s i mpns si bl e t o con, ar eLos Angel es wi t h nny ot her Aner i cnn c i t y, (1' t cappl y t he s ome s t andcr ds or cr i t er i n t hPt t ar ef r equent l y n, pl i ed t c c i t i es i n t he des i gn of t r ans pcr t at i on s ys t ens .


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f i ci ent t o nccoonoc1e. t e t he t r af f i c dennnds f or s one t i ne t o

ccne, t he wee. knes s l i es i n t he di s t r i but i c n nnd nr r angc I 1ent s of

s t r eet s pnce! t oc wi de i n Ds ny pl aces , t oo nar r cw i n

et her s . The pr es ent s t r eet pat t er n was des i gned f or al nw Dovi ns

t r af f i c whi c h hRS bec ome ext i nc t . I t does not f unc t i en ef f i ci ent -

l y when us ed by vehi c l es c~pebl e of t r 2vel l i ng s noot hl y 2nd

wi t h gr es t pOV>i erat hi gh r at es of s peed. I t was net des i gned

t o pr ot ec t t he l i v es of ei t her t he Dot or c ar us er or t he

pedest r i c . n.

pr es ent s t r eet s ys t c n c nn be ndj us t ed t o neet

t he needs of mot or vehi cul ar t r af f i c onl y at a t r c nend0us

c os t . The pr ec es s of c r eat i ng gr ent er pnvenent wi dt hs by

s et t i ng bac k c ur bs has j us t about r eac hed i t s l i ni t s . Pr o-

vi s i on of addi t i c 1nal r c aoway i n t he f ut ur e nus t i nvcl ve ' wi den-

i ng of t he r i ght - of - v! f \ Y. Tl l i 3 i s [ ; c os t l y pr ec es s i nvol v i ng

huge pr oper t y and sever ence dE1ne


20/61

t hr GUf hc ut t he r e gi e- n, t he decent r al i z at i o n of bus i nes s and

i ndus t r y, and nos t r e c en t l y t he de f ens e as pec t of t r ans por t a-

The r 8p i d i nc r eas e i n pCl p ul n t i c , ni n Lns Ange l es,Count y i s i l l us t r at ed f r aphi c el l y en F i gur e z '. .

r at e of gr owt h i s f 1e i nt a i ned t he c ount y wi l l h8ve a popul a t i on

of appr oxi l wt el y f i ve ni l l i o n by 1960. * The l o t es t Fede r al

t r a s t L os h. ngel es shc / v l e da c onpar nt i v el y hi gh r et e of i nc r eas e.

The t r ans por t nt i ( n pr e, b l en i s c onpl i c et ed by t he l o w

* nat n f ur ni s he d by t he L us Angel es Regi c nal Pl a nni ng COI : l t ' " 1i s s i on

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21/61

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22/61

A c as ual anal ys i s of t he ec onomi c bas e of eac h r eveal s t hat

n on e i s s e l f - s u f f i c i e nt , t ha t t o s o me de gr e e e ac h c o mmuni t y

Tho r api d i nc r eas e i n mot or veh i c l e own0r s hi p~

a nd us e , Q.S i l l us t r e. t od gl ~Ql ) hj . C


23/61

r ogi s t er ~d i n t ho c ount y i n 1937, t ho YC8r of t ho l as t

t r af f i c c ens us . I f t he vol umo of t r 2f f i c as of 1937 i s 8ub-

up t he n~t i onnl dvf oDsc, en ovon gr c~t or si gni f i cnncc t hen

t hoy f or mer l y hol d: Communi cr . t i on bct vl Oen t he so cant er s of


24/61

excl us i v e of t he s ums s pent by ot her j ur i s d i c t i ons i n t he

L os Ang~l os Regi o n nhi c h mus t h8vo t ot o . l l ed meny mi l l i ons

: 1l Or e. Hhi l c ec : c h i m J ) r OVCl i l c ntnf f o r dc d c : c or t r i n [ ' , mount of

r o l i ~f nc por m~nc nt s ol ut i o n t o t he pr c bl c @ of t r r f f i c c on-

ges t i o n wos c c c oup l i shc d.


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Tho f c c t uc l s ur v ey of t ho Tr c ; n s po r t nt i on Engi ne er i ng Boar dF. 13

we s di v i de d i nt o t hr c G pr i nc i pa l di v i s i o ns - o ne d081i ng wi t h

t h e us e of c x i st i ng fa r . SE ;

t he usc; of l ' ) rivo t e m. e :t or

1. A c he ck t o dc t c r mi nc t he o r i gi n a nd do s t i n ot i o no f QGS2 t r a ns i t p as s e n ge r s a nd o t h er i n f o r mn t i o nr e l a t i ng t o r i d i ng hc bi t s Qn d t o c onv oni c nc c o f GXi st i ng f Qci l i t i es.

2. Spot l oadi ng c hoc ks of pGs s c ngc r s bo ar di ng endo. l i ght i ng i n t b . G Cent r Ql Bus i nos s Di s t r i c t des i gnedt o devel op dGt f ' . i l ed i nf onn: : ' . t i ono. s t o c1i st r i but i cno f p as s e n ge r s r e l c t e d t o t ho dc wn t c wn a r e n.

3. Choc ks of IX ). ssengGr s boe- r d i ng cnd nl i gh t i ng,oper c t i ng s peeds , c nd pr i nc i pal c aus es c f del c y i nt y pi c cl t r i ps t o ai d i n r eac hi ng c onc l us i ons c on-c er n i ng t y po s o f o qui pmc nt r . ncl t ho poss i bi l i t i eso f t r a f f i c c ent r o l i n expedi t i ng mo vo ment .

4. Chec ks ond anal ys i s 2f t r ans por t at i on us ed byi ndus t r i a l o mpl o y ees t o det er mi ne pr a c t i c nbi l i t yo f p r OVi d i n g a dc i t i o n21 o r mo r c d1r o c t r o ut e s .

5. Che c ks c nd ~n Ql y s i s o f di s t r i but i o n o f Qut o mo bi l eonnor shi p c~nc1r ( ; l r ~t L ' l 1shi pof i : ' . ut c Ll obi l eor mer s hi pt o [jws s t r ' - :ns i t us o ' .

6. Ceunt s of QGt c r v ehi c l e s ~nd p2s s o ngc r s e nt e r i ng

a nd l 02v i ng t ho Co nt r ~l Bus i nes s Di s t r i c t .7. Check : : : 1'vehi cl es _ i n t he ccnt r : ' - . lnr ec. t o det er mi ne

t he er i gi n o f vehi c l es , t ho nGod f er s pc c i ~l hi gh-wc . y s f r o m c ut e r ~r C8S t o t ho Cc nt r c l Bus i nes sDi s t r i c t , a nd t he ndoquc c y c f s t o r ~ge f ~c i l i t i esgener al l y .

8. Pc pul C' , t i c . nt hr o ugho ut t ho s t uc . . ynr o o. c c nduc t o d i ns uc h mnnnGr t hC1t s h i f t s mi ght bo o vr . l u : " t o d f o r t hop er i o d b 0 t r I con t ho 1 ~30 census ClUG. J r . nucr y 1, 1938.


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, 9. Suc r r l ~r y- o f bended i n debt ednes s ~f i nc c r por ~t Gdci t i os i n L os Angel es C~unt y ( except Aval on) nsof J c nuar y 1, 1939.

The s ur voys " . nd t he i nvc s t i g~~t i on s i n t ~, of , c h ~f t he c . bI . J v e, F. 14

phns es or e do s c r i be d i n s c me de t c i l i n t he f 2Ct u~1 r epor t of

1. P or c ent c go . ., ~f i 11cr ee .s e i n pop ul , ~t i en vnr i e d. i ndi f f er ent s ect i o ns c f t ho f . ' . r c~.NOf : 1, rt ho cont r alc i t y o. r or .t hor o V;c.s G moder ~t o i ncr ec s G. . Beyc ndt he 5 mi l e d i s t ance z ono i ncr oc. ses occur r od, t hel ~r g os t i n t h o 7 ~ t o 1 0 mi l e z ene, I n t he 2. t o5. mi l e z ene t hor o ~~s onl y Qbc u ~ l ~ pe r c e nt .

2 • Ei ght y- f i ve po r c cnt , ) f t he p c t r : . : : nsc . : f ) ubl i ct r ans por t ~t i ~n l i no s c ho c ke d. n~l kc d t o t he poi ntof bonr ui ng. I t appear s t ho. t 80 per c ent 2f t hepo. t r 0ns l i ve ni t hi n t TI Obl ocks of t he l i n os .

3,. r , i or et han 70 per c ent of t he p at r ons of t he Paci f i cE l ect r i c I nt er ur ban r a i l l i ne s a nd c o nc h l i n esi ncl Udi ng Mot or Transit, wall:c d l e s s t ha n t hr eebl o c ks . Ev en i n c a s e o f t ho s e r e ~c hi n g t he l i n esby a ut o , o ne- t hi r d t r o. v E; l c d1( , 8S t han t hr ( , o bl oc k s ,and abeut on e- h al f l e s s t h ~n s oven bl o c k s .

4. About 99 por c ent of al l pas s enger s v121ke d f r omp o i n t 3 o f r :l i €: , ; ht i ngt o t hei r f i na l c l eat i no.t i ons .On l y 9 p er c e nt t r a v el ~d b y ~ut e, ~nd 0. 1 per c entby o t hc r p ubl i c t r nns por t at i o n f c c i l i t i e s . T heaver nge wal ki ng di s t anc e weB l e s s t h en f i v e b l o c ksi n97 per c ent of t he c as c s , and l es s t han s e venbl o c ks i n 98 per c cnt of t hom. Pas s enger s al i g ht -i ng ot t 9r r nnal s wnl ked f ar t her .

5. The bul k of p~t r c n ~g e i s t he r e s ul t o f r o gul ar da i l yt r i ps . I t ~as f o u nd t hat 62 pe r c e nt r i de f i v e ormor c c . . : - l ySper r i e c k, 1 6 per c un t r i de t hr o e ( : r f ourde. y s per ~o~k, ~nd 22 per c ent of t he t r i p s ~c r o

m~dc onl y oc c r s i o nal l y.6. Appr oxi m. [ ' . t c l y33 pur c ent of i nbc , und : r r . t r on~go of

l oc al r e i l l i n os af t he L os ~ngol os Ra i l Day endPac i f i c El ec t r i c Rai l u c y ~GS handl e d dur i ng t he2- hour ' p er i o d bet nc o n 7 : 00 Gnd 9: 00 ~. M. , uhi l ei n e xc os s o f 40 p or c ent 0f P~ci f i c E l ect r i c I nt er -ur ban ~nd ~ot or Tr r ns i t Cc a c h pas s ~ngGr s t r avel oddur i ng t hGt per i od.


27/61

passenger s tr nnsfur in order to get to their d 0stinc-tions on any singlo r eil line. L bout 33 por c:,,..;,th0r moc,ns, or ~ic n..t st~to thu k inC sf tr ~ns pcrt2ti:n used •. Of the )Gr s ~'ns tr ::veling by r .u t,~no bilu v:ho. furnishe clinf ,;r f il~tion, six c;n..:'..c.no-tunth p(.,r cent pc.id f or

parking.

12. '\/.111il0there is ~.n extremely -aide di stri buticn of cmployucs, in uV0r y inst~nce the gro~tcr num bor

r csic.cc.. in the c:.istrict in '\;hich employe'::, c.ncl thonext gror:test nur ;:. ber r esieo in the 'immcc1ir telysurr cun~ing ~istricts.

13. ~utGQc bilc c~n(;rship hra boon ~unc to bu pr o pcrti:n-ate to po pul~ti~n ~ln~st ~ith.~t r cg~r c.. to eccncmicst~tus ~f the pec plo in the veri~us secticns of thostu,-ly ~re~.~

14_ Sixty-thr ee stro.ticns c.t -,.hich c..:unts ~-,croac.de of c;utomo bilus entering end le~ving the Centrel Busi-ness District hcve been gr ou ped into socti~ng, tno

22:.


28/61

on onc h t ho e~s t on& TI os t s i ~es . A t ot al of 259, 080Gut ( f f i obi l os ent or ec , cnd 257, 922 l ef t t he ~i st r i ctdur i ng t he 12- hour per i od.

15. The per c ent of nut ; " ; ; [ ; l e bi l osGnt er i ng t he Cont r a l Bus i -ne s s Di s t r i c t f r om s uc ces s i ve 2i mi l e z one s a bo ut t he

ei s t r i c t de c r o as e s a s t ho ~i s t Gnco f r om i t i ne r oGs o s , Ther o i s a hi Gh e : : . , mr . 1Or c i , . . , lusnge : f c : ut ( ; Dl c bi l o sr eg-i s t e: r oC' .f r 0Gl \ 7it hi n t hE;


29/61

I n t he r epor t "A T r ans i t Pr ogr am f o r t he Los Angel es Met r o -

pol i t an Ar ea" ar e cer t a i n br oad obj ect i ves whi ch t he Tr an8por t o . t i on F-

Eng i neer i ng Boar d s et as i t s goal .

1. The devel opment o f t he ' most at t r act i ve and pr act i cabl epl an f or pr ovi di ng moder n ur ban and 8ubur b~n t r ans -p or t a t i o n f o r t he Ci t y o f L o s An ge l e s a pp r opr i a t el yc oor di nat ect wi t h t he r equi r ement s of t he sur r oundi ngc Of f i Quni t i esof t he Met r opol i t an Ar oa,

2. The devel opment of a c ompr ehensi ve pl a n and pr ogr amba s ed o n a nd pr o vi di ng f o r j us t c oo r di nat i on of t hor i g ht a nd i nt e r e s t s o f a l l pa r t i e s' i ncl udi ng t he carand bus r i dor , t ho uut omobi l e user , ' t he oper a t o r o f

c omme r c i a l v ehi c l e s , t he pedest r i an, t ho pr oper t yowne r , ~n d t he emp l o y ee o f and i n ve s t o r i n t he p r e s e ntt r anspor t at i on ent er pDi ses .

3. Beco. use t he mo s t e f f e c t i v e me as u r e s wi l l be t h os ewhi ch wi l l moot r adi c a l l y c h an ge t ho o ve r a l l s p ee dof t r an s i t o f pr i v at e v ehi c l e s a nd ma s s t r ans por t at i oncar r i e r s i n movi ng per sons and pr oper t y ov' or l ongdi s t an ce s whi c h i t i s n ec e8s ar y t o t r a ve r s e i n t h eLos Angel es Ar oa , a pr i mar y obj ect i ve o f t he Boar di s t he go al o f r e ac hi ng, f or t he gr eat es t nmnber of pass enger s and f or t he maxi mum por t i on of t hei r j our n eys , an aver age s p eed o f t he or der o f t wi c e t hatnow at t a i ned i n t he sur f ace t r af f i c st r eams.

4. Or di nar i l y, t r af f i c densi t y gr ows wi t h t he popul at i onof a c i t y and t he s peed of s ur f ~c e v ehi c l e s t hus t e ndst o become pr ogr ess i vel y s l ower , ' but even i f t hi ss h oul d no t a ppl y t o L os An ge l e s , t he s Ct l l e o f p os s i bl ei mpr ovement s i n s ur f ace speeds i s r e l at i vel y l i mi t ed;t her ef or e, t he Boar d has s ought a s o l ut i o n t e nd i ng t omi ni mi ze t hi s l i mi t at i on and i t s act i v i t i es have t her e-f o r e been poi nt ed i n t ho d i r ect i on o f gr eat est appar entand act ual i mpr ovement , not onl y f o r t he mass t r ans-p or t a t i o n r i de r b ut f o r t he g r e at ma s s o f p r i v at e c a r

passenger s .5. A maj o r obj ect i ve ho. s be en, o f c o ur s e , ' t he moder ni z a-

t i on o f sur f ace t r ans i t f ac i l i t i es but , whi l e cer t a i ni mpr ovement s s houl d be nade i mme di a t e l y , i t wi l l l a t e rbe o bv i o us t ho. t S01: 1ephas es of t hi s pr obl em ar edependent on t he coor d i nat i o n o f p r o po s a l s c o nt a i n edi n the r epor t .

To a. c c ompl i sh t hese obj ect i ves t be Tr ans por t at i on Engi nee r i ng F- J


30/61

1. Non- s t op ar t er i es ar Q r equi r ed wi t h r el at i vel y di r ectr out es ' t o por r . 1it adequat e over a l l spcr ed f or pr i vat ea nd p Ubl i c pa s s e ng er v ehi c l e s o ve r l a ng ha ul a nd

i nt er - di s t r i ct t r i ps. '

For such pur poses , t he Boar d r ecomoends a sys t em of expr ess hi ghways and ar t er i a l par kways as t he f r ame-wor k f or a compr ehensi ve t r ansi t and t r anspor t at i onsys t em und pr esent s a def i n i t e pr i mar y expr ess r out epat t er n desi gned t o pr ovi de s i mul t aneousl y f or r adi aland i nt er - d i st r i ct t r avel wi t h by- pass and di st r i bu-t i ng f eat ur · es.

2~ The subst ant i a l i n~est ment i ncur r ed i n pr ov i d i ng gr adesepar at ed t r af f i c ar t er i es r equi r es i nt ensi ve use t o

j us t i f y ac t ual c ons t r uct i on.

The Boar d t her ef or e r ec omne nd~r as i n t he publ i ci nt er est , t he cont t ' Ql 1ed usa of " expr es s hl ghwc. . ysbyr aD~d t r ansi t buses under condi t i ons i nsur i ng( A) v ehi c l e s s p ec i a l l y de s i gn ed f o r t he s e r v i c e t opr eal ude i nnppr opr i at e speed, br akI ng or s l mi l archar act er i st i cs , (B) r es t r i c t ed nunber as occas i onnay r equi r e, (0) bus s t o ps e nt i r e l y o ut o f t he t r a f f i cl a ne s o n t he Ga i n hi ghway, and (D ) ar r angement sde s i g ne d t o l i qui da t e a ny e xc e s s c o s t s o f hi g hwa ys duet o bus e s by r e nt a l c ha r ge s t o be pa i d o ut o f r e ve nue sof t he t r anspor t at i on sys t em.

3. To i nsur e hi axi mumut i l i t y o. . ndbenef i t s f r oD non- s t opar t er i es , r api d t r ans i t buses oper at i ng t her eon andsur f ace t nans i t f ac i l i t i es shoul d be wel l coor d i nat ed.

The Boar d r ecor . 1r : l \ . ~ndst hor ough coor di nat i on of sur f acea nd r a pi d t r a ns i t f a c i l i t i e s ; t ha t s t o p l o c at i o ns f o rr a pi d t r a ns i t bus e s o n e xp r e s s hi g hways be ar r angedt o f ac i l i t at e pass enger i n t er change at poi n t s o f i n t er -scot i on u i t ~ a l l i mpor t ant sur f ace r a i l and bus l i nes ;and t hat cer t a i n r api d t r ans i t l i nes be ar r anged t opr ov i de f or t hr ough ser v i ce, wi t hout t r anf er , byr un ni ng r a pi d t r a ns i t bus e s f o r pa r t o f t he i r r o ut e o nt he s u r f a oe s t r e et s t o pi c k up t he pa s s e ng er s c o nv en -i e nt l y , t he n o n t ho e xpr e s s hi ghwa y f o r hi gh s p ee do ve r t he l o ng ha ul a nd t he n ba ck o n t he s t r e et s a ga i nf o r di s t r i but i o n o f t he i r l o ad. a t t he us u al s t r o etst ops .

4. Pub l i c conveni ence, ef f i c i ency and s i mpl i c i t y o f c o nt r o l r o qui r e t ha t a l l t r a ns i t o pe r at i ons be undera CODr . 10nmanagement i n whi ch t he publ i c i s oont i nuous-l y r epr esent ed by an act i vo t r ust ee or t r ans i tc OI : l mi s s i o nor ~


31/61

The Boar d r eoommend s a gener a l pol i c y of un i f i c at i onof management and coor d i nat i on of a l l t r ans i t oper a -t i o ns a nd t he a c t u~l c a r r y i n g o ut o f s u c h po l i c y t ot he ext ent whi ch n$got i a t i ons i ndi cat e t o be i n t hepubl i c i nt er es t .

5. Pr os pect i ve ci t y gr owt h r equi r es t hat ar r angement s ,

pr ovi ded i n t ho pr es ent , cont empl at e devel opmenti nt o a much h i gher capaci t y sys t em appr opr i a t e t ot he f ut ur e condi t i ons.

Tho Boar d do es not c ons i de r i t an appr opr i at e t i mef or r ecomnendat i ons covel " i ng i r ; ' l nedi at eco ns t r uct i onof s u bs t a nt i a l e l e mont s o f a r a i l r a pi d t r a ns i tsy st en.

The 1r ans po r t a t i on En gi neer i ng Boar d n~{es t he f o l l owi ng

st at enent r egar di ng t he i nmedi at e const r uct i on pr ogr am: l i l t

shoul d be under st ood t hat t he Bohr d ' s r ecof f i nendat i onsf or con-

st r uct i on do not appl y t o t he ent i r e bas i c pr ogr am, t he devel op-

ment of wr ~ch may be expect ed t o ext end over a per i od of ye~r s .

Al t hough t ho. par kway has pr oven ver y popul ar wher ever t r i ed,

a pp r opr i a t e l y f o l l ow l oc a l a c c ep t a nc e o f t h e e s s e n t i a l f a c t or s

wh i c h , i n t ur n , ma y b es t b e d ev el ope d t h r oug h p ubl i c u s e o f t h e

f ac i l i t i es pr oposed. Devel opment s l ~ul d not be at a bur densome

r at e and t he Boar d woul d t her ef or e ur ge caut i on on pr oj ect s


32/61

rrlHi~r,)~Q &.OSE D PA RK WA.Y PL AN FO R L OS A NG EL ES

i s t o pr oduc e s af e, f as t r out es bet ween t r af f i c obj ec t i v es .

The t r af f i c obj ec t i ve may be a cent er of popul at i on; a sub-

ur ban r esi dent i al communi t y such as Pasadena; an i nf ul st r i al

c ent er s uc h as Ver non; a c ommer c i al c ent er , s uc h as t he Cent r al

Bus i nes s Di s t r i c t or Hol l ywood; a r ec r eat i onal c ent er s uc h

cent er i n t he met r opol i t an ar ea. I n des i gni ng t he par kway

s ys t em as many as pos s i bl e of t he poi nt s of t r af f i c or i gi n

A c ar ef ul l y c onc ei ved par k way pl an wi l l al s o pr OVi de

f or a s ys t em of c i r c ul at or y r out es whi c h wi l l r el i ev e c onges t -

ed ar eas. _ ' I hi s i s a. . c c. . Dmpl i s hedby desi gni ng a syst em of more----- -

i mmedi at el y ar ound t he Cent r al Busi ness Di st r i ct . The di s-

t ance bet ween each successi ve bel t wi l l i ncr ease wi t h t he

A s ys t em of c r o s s - t own r out es i s an i nt egr al par t

of ' t he par k way pl an. Thes e r out es , i n c ont r as t t o t he r adi al

t he c i t y, ar e. des i gned t o c onnec t s ubur ban c ent er s as di r ec t l y

as pos s i bl e.


33/61


34/61

i mpor t ant cent er s wer e i n t ur n c onnec t ed wi t h ev er y ot her

s ubur ban c ent er unt i l a pat t er n of hypot het i c al l i nes of

" Hypo~~et i ~al Li nes of Communi cat i on" •

t he d~agr am:

1. Ther e ar e a l ar ge number of l i nes f r om al l di r ec t i onsconver gi ng at t he most i mport ant cent er s, i ndi cat i ngt he need f or Ii s ys t em of r adi al r out es emangt i ng f r omt hos e cent er s. Ii'.17

2. Ther e ar e c er t ai n mor e or l es s wel l def i ned r out eswher e t her e appear a c l us t er i ng of l i nes , i ndi c at i ng

t he need f or a d5. r ect l i ne of communi cat i on.

An east - west l i ne f r om Sant a Moni ca east er l y t hr ought he Cent r al Busi ness Di st r i ct and onwar d t o WestCovi na and Pomona.

An east - west l i no oxconcHng f r om Van Nuys, t hr oughor i n t he vi c i ni t y of Bur bank, Gl endal e, Pas adena,Monr ovi a, Azusa and Gl endor a.

A l i ne ex t endi ng s out her l y t o L ong Beac h and SanPedr o. f i ' hi sl i ne pass es t hr ough or i n t ho Vi c i ni t yof s ev or al s ubur ban c ent er s and s ome di s t anc e t oGho eas t of t ho Cent r al Busi ness Di st r i ct .

Ther a i s a def i ni t e l i ne i ndi cat ed ext endi ng f r omt ho Cent r al Bus i nes s Di s t r i c t s out hwar d t o t hoLong BeBch- San Pedr o Ar ea.

Anot hor l i ne Gxt o: nds nor t hwest war d f r om t ho Cent I ' alBusi ness Di st r i ct t hr ough Hol l ywood co t ho SanFer nando Val l ey.

Ther e i s al so a l i no i ndi cat ed f ol l owi ng t ho coastf r 0111Sant a Nl oni ce. t o San Podr o.

Ot her l ess ev i dent l i nos ar e di nent od oxt endi ngi n al l di r ec t i ons t hr ough t ho Los Angel es Hegi on.

A t heor et i c al dosi gn f or a par ~{Way syst om was pr o-F.' 18


35/61

••\

I•.

_ •• .. J

••

I••I•·_ .. J

HYPOTHETICAL LINES

OF COMMUNiCATION PALOS VERDES

METROPOLITAN

CITY OF LOS

Lcale:o I

AREA

ANqELES

f ill ••

to /I a

1941


36/61

cent er s l ocat ed ~i t h r espect t o t he Cent r a l Bus i ness Di s t r i c t

o f t he Ci t y o f L o s An ge l e s a nd a l l phy s i c a l f e at ur e s whi c h

cons t i t ut e na t ur a l o bs t a c l e s . I n t hi s t he or e t i c n l s c h eme,

s hown on F i gur e 4 e~1t it l ed " Theor et i cal Par kvJ a y P l a n" , n oot t empt was made t o conf or m t o t he 6 Y i s t i ng st r eet l ay out ,

t o t he nmj o r s t r e et pl a n o r t o c x i s t i ng s t r uc t ur e s . T he

Pl an i l l ust r at es ono poss i bl e pat t er n . The Tr anspor t at i on

Engi noer i ng Boor d dr ow t hi r t y- t wo pet t er ns i n ar r i v i ng at t he

r oCOJ J l LI Cnded dos i gn.

Al l t ho e l e mont s o f c par k w8Y p l on 8r o pr ov i ded i n t het heor ot i cal sc heme . Re di c l r out e s ar e pr oduc e d Gx t e ndi n g f r om

t he Cent r e l Bus i ness Di s t r i c t out war d i n 211 di r oct i ons t o

s er ve: t ho s ubur bcn communi t i es. Cr oss - t own r out es er e pr oducQd

bot woen t ho l ar gor s u bur b~n c ent er s . A s y s t em o f bo l t o r by -

Busi ness Di s t r i ct t o r out e t hr ough t r ~f f i c ~r ound t he ci t y

and ar ound t he congest ed cent or .

Compnr i ng t he t h00r ot i co. l p: . : r kv l Gys c heme wi t h t ho

di agr am s howi ng hypot l ~t i co1 l i nes of cO~i l l l uni c c t i o nbet weon t he

v ar i o us ur ba n c e nt e r s , i t wi l l be n ot e d t hat , o xc ept f or di s -

t or t i ons i n t ho r ou t OB caused by t opogr c : phi cr ~1 f eet ur o s , IX '. r k -

TI ay r out es bo t TI oen c c nt or $ of mcj or i mpor t anco Doul d be pr ovi d-

e d. I t T I oUt lbo i mpos s i b l e t o pr oduc e c pc r k ~oy bot ~con ever y

ur ban c e nt or i n t ho r e gi on. Thor o ~r o s omo f or t y- f our i ncor po-

r c t od s ubur b: : - . nco mmuni t i cs . : 2nd s ev c r ~l o t her c e nt er s t he t er o

uni ncor por nt ed. By pr ov i dt ng c r out e ~her e t h~r c i s 0 cl us t er -

i ng o f t heor e t i c a l l i n es o f c OL l l l l uni c c t i o n,pr act i c c l l y e l l

cont er s er e t appe d, o r o r o l o c at e d s u f f i c i o nt l y c l o s e t o a


37/61

7//\\' ; _

~//II'\~ '~"/II\\\j;:

C L A R EM

G

. THEORETICAL

pARKWAY PLAN

METROPO LITAN AREA

CITY OF LO S A NG EL ES

.,{eol.,

o ;./\li I e's

1/ //

1941

0C'

~~I. .I\y

CITY Of LOS ANGI'.L ES


38/61

Di l l cdaqu2t Gl y Ecrvu t he ~et r opol i t ~n ~r or , i t DCS subj ect ed

t o f ol l oni ng t est s:

ur b~n cent er s . Tho Engi neer i ng Tr ~ns por t ~t i on Bo~r d P~~n docsF.19

moot t hi s r equi r ement i n t hc.t r C' di~11rout es ::.r (; pr ov i ded f r om

moves f r oQ t he c ut er f r i l ~o t ~ward t ho Cont r ~l Busi nes s Dis-~


39/61

t r i c t dnd

from

tho Contrrl Business Dist r ic t

outwcrd

i t i s

r8c:son8blo

thet

tho design

should

prc vid0

c .n c d o q u ~ ~ t e system

of

routes for

this t r ~ f f i c .

Th

nl

nT OV1

fe,r

. l : l r k . J t ~ y f =

rc di

ting:

in

811

diroc-

;

. l - ~

.1:


40/61

of tho V~llGY. This ~ill give the S~n FGrD~ndo Valley

thr oe d ir oct r c.d icl r outos t~ the centr el p~rt of tho

r ogicp. Further, tho r c:di:-.ls n:::k c ccnnocticn vlith sever:,l

cr css-tv,m end . belt r outes ':Jhich 1:ill cn~ ble tho r Gsidents

of tho Valley to r o::.ch any other p~rt cf the r cgi _l1 ~ithcut

passing thr cugh tho c;:.ngosted con tor.

T~G d ir ect r c.dic.ls ~ro pr vvidcc th~ r esid ents of

Sc.nta Kcnica - Venice, the Sante ~onicG Pc.rk TI~yend . the

Oly:,"pic - Venice Pc.r kYIC'.ys. Those p:lrl,ciInys r iill also cnf '\ blo

the resid ents ~f the B~ra densoly populntcd secticns of the

Hcste rn DC'.rt of the city t;,; r unch tho becche s qui ckly end

scf cly.

pr ccluc e(.:' bot'uecn the. Centr ::'.l Businos s Distric t one. tho c.ir port.

The if I1pcrt".l1cGc.f this ~);~r kTIc:yDust bo ".~): p,~.r cr :tto ever ycne.

Ther e er e no~ n~ cQequnto highwoy f ocilitics botTIeen this ver y

im port::.nt tr c.Yls pcrt,-:ticn tor rJinal c.nc. t..lJ .G centr e1 p,"'\rt cf tho

nnJ P~los V0rd os, end . is r ec.d ily Gcccssiblo to tho boc.chos und

TriO d .ir (;ct r c.c:'i.::11 r vutos t;..· the h'-r bc:·r :nd . the

cCrJnunitics to the south r :~r\ j ~'r cvic.cL in the plan. '1'h(; nf':rbcr

Pcr b,"y to '}ilningtcl1, :::iC.D:t~oc.r ( nn G. the t~rbor, cnc. the Long

BG!::chP:.r l:.:rr :y t~.Lone.;Boc:ch Q il:::'.. the hr.rbcr. Tho l.--:ttvr r oute

PCSSl..S thr :.:ugh ~r in tt6 nc"'.r vicini ty ~f Vur -n~;n,Huntingt.:n

Pnrk , S:.:.uth G - C ', tl.,;, Lyn'.-;oo'~:1"ne: Con pton.


41/61

syst em over 0 pl on o f t he mos s t r ons por t nt i o n f oc i l i t i o s o f

' "t ho r egi on. . Thi s i s s hown on F i gur e~. Tho pur pos e of t ho


42/61

II

I

I /

C~~~" _~_'''.T _''''''''~ _~'''''''r ~-r ...'''T''''T''o-"'T'"''A A R ' I I

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\ \ I' \,~

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._ .T-._ .... ••. .'''-i.-- '


43/61

i ns t ances t he r out es . par al l el each ot her , and t hat i n mos t

cas es t he par kway t akes t he mos t di r ect r out e.

i mpos i ng t he s yst em over 8. popul at i on spot map of t he Los/)

Angol es Rogi on. See Fi gur e~. I t wi l l be not ed t hat pnr bvays

ar e pr opos ed t o t ap a l l poi nt s of popul at i on conc ent r at i on i n


44/61

\..\

D A ~ K W A Y P L A NA N D

D IS T J : Z I B U T I O N

o r D O D U L A T IO N ~or 19.40

M ET R OPOLITAN AR EA-C O UN TY O ~ LO S A NG ELES

DE;PARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING - CITY

THE REGION AL PL AN N I NG COM MISSION

OF LOS ANGELES PARKWAY PL AN

COU NTY OF LOS ANGELES-POPULATIO


45/61

~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : ~ ' ~ : : ~ ~ : ; ~ ~ ~ ; ! - ; ; : ~ - < C - - ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ M : T ~

~~\~,~ ~ ~{f.11 i ) ! ) . { . ; , Y '

' \\"

L.. _.


46/61

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PAR IC~AY PLAt,T TO THiI: CITY OF-------------1.,0S ANGELES--·--------------·--

metro politan ar ea of Los 2ngeles, will save the peo ple millions

of dollars annually in transportation costs~ (It has boen

estimated this saving will r each sixtrr million d oll,::,r s a "lTt:)or).*

* Los Angelos - P:;.'of c.:cQto C l l.:Ustcr Plcn - Str oets: TheCirculator y S::stem.. E. E. E8st, Engilloer , Automo bile Clubof Southar n Cclif or nic~


47/61

3. T ho va l ue ~£ pr oper t y abut t i ng heavy t r af f i c

t hor oughf ar os wi l l bo s t abal i z ed by r omovi ng t ho ob j ect i on-

abl e f ec t ur es of t he s t r oot , t he l a r ge vo l ume of t hr ough Gnd

l o ng haul t r a f f i c .

4. Tho Ci t y Pl a nn i n g Cor nmi s s i on CQn pr oc eod 'l:li t h

t ho i nt e l l i g en t p l a nn i ng o f o t her c l ement s o f t he c o n~r 0hc n-

s i v0 c i t y p l en.

5. V) S Angel os i s t ho f i r s t c i t y t o pl en a c om-

pr ehons i v G s y s t em of pa r k TI c ys f o r r a pi d t r ans i t . New Y or k

pl an s omov! ho. t s i mi l o. r t o t ho L os ; i . . n gc L - ; si ) l o. ni n i t s s c o p e; &-.

T~10 eXDer i onc o i n Nen Y or k c nd Ci i i c ~. g oha s beon mo s t s at i s -

f a ct or ' ! . Tr o f f i c mo v es r c . pi dl ' 7[ md i n l o r g e v ol umes . Of i n-

t e r es t al s o i s t ho ef f o c t of t ho cons t r uc t i on of t ho p~r k TI ~ys

up on a dj a ce nt p r o por t i os i n t ho Ne\ 1 Y0r k RQgi on. In al l c as es , .

6. . . Far k , 1C: y s , o f t h o t y p o r o c omnl Gnded i n t h i s r epor t , .

Wi l l s t a nd t ho t es t of t i me. Af t er e S Uf f i c i e nt l y wi do r i ght -

of - way has bo on a 6qui ~e d, t he r o adways have been const r uct ed,

t he s t r e et g r a de s e pa r a t i o ns a nd pa r kwa£ i ~e~ec t i ons bui l t

and t he bor der i ng s t r i ps pr oper l y l andsc aped, t he i mpr o ve ment

i s c ompl et e d f o r al l t i me exc ept f or s uc h r epai r s and TI l s i nt e -

na nc e t hat may b e n ec e s s a r y . The pl an i s a de qua t e a t t he pr e -

s e nt t i me un de r p r e s en t c on di t i o ns a nd f o r t he f ut ur e i ns o f a r

as t he t e chni que s a nd s c i e nc e o f c i t y p l a nn i n g a nd s o u nd

e ngi n ee r i ng c oul d de t e r mi ne . The r out es i n t he Dl a n er e a p-


48/61

pr oxi mat e l ocat i ons, subseouent s t udy may i nf l uence t hei r

pr eci se l ocat i on.

proximate locations subsecuent study y influence

t ir

precise

locat ion


49/61

CAHUENGA

(above) no BOULEVARD

the Holl w speeds flow and Highla

of th ywood District of extremel h nd Avenue I

Los

An p r ~ p o s e d

,Holly

to tdhe north, \heavy traffic

In

n t ~ r s e c t i o n

(low, w h ,h , wco P w, , com I, 0 0/

CO ,,; :;,h )

I d S

} d O Y V ~ : d to ~ o o ~ , ~ , , , , m ,

C a l l f o r n i ~ o n designed to c ompre ss ed c r ~

AI rroyo Seco Pcekntral

moto, , m, ,

top

m ,,1 l

w Y

~ f , t y i:;; , ~ , , , ~ J w

,, lfy

i ; : f ~ l h c

c o n d i t i o ~ ~ e

Sf ramp

or, uces driv IS Parkw outhern

ng fatigue day saves time

, a n has h

• a gh

r k

ere are

Segmeni s

Greai Par

hen

i

Los

Angel

i s

Fulfillm

We grat f

certain e u Ily ackn

this

re

cuts a nd owle

an d

pJ 0r t

by the P ~ o t

Lo s

n

b li c Works alJf

g el es C it y E ma

ngm


50/61

ys Elim inat:e Traffic Confusion

lan.

mand

f n

ye


51/61

L. The habi t of a gr eat mas s of t he peopl e of t heLos J i l l gel esregi on of l J . s i ngt ho pr i vet e aut omobi l e

as t he pr i nci pal meens of t r anspor t at i on.E. The l ow densi t y o f popul at i on and wi de di sper si on

of r esi dent i al devel opment s, t hus t endi ng t owar dl ong haul s.

3. Hi gh aut omobi l e owners hi p and TI i despr ead us e of t he aut omobi l e •

. 4. Weaknes s of t he present s t r eet syst em, t ho s mal lpr opor t i on of s t r eet ar ea t o t he t ot al ar ea of t he ci t y.

5. A moderat o c l i mat e t hr oughout t he year whi c h i sconduci ve t o t he gr eat or use of t he mot or vehi c l e.

6. I nobi l i t y t o opor r . ~t ea f i na. nci al l y sound mass r oi lr api d t r Qnsi t syst em wi t hout mat er i al i nc r eas esi n f ar es or subst ant i al subsi di es.

7, The vas t ar ea of t he ci t y and mot r opol i t an ar eat endi ng t owar d l ong haul s.


52/61

The par kway pl an f or ms Q f r amewor k about whi ch t he

ont i r o st r uct ur e of t ho ci t y con be mor e i nt el l i gent l y

pl unned.L i ko ot her el emont s of t he compr ehens i ve ci t y p12n

t ho par kway pl an must be st udi ed cont i nuul l y cnd k ept c l i v e.

I t must be adj ust od TI hon nocessar y t o changi ng condi t i ons.


53/61

mos t l ogi cal and f eos i bl e s ol ut i on t o t he t r anspor t at i on pr obl em.

Af t er c c ar of ul s t udy of t ho f act ual dat a upon Whi ch t ho t r ansi t

f ol l owi ng r ecommendat i ons er e made:

1. ThDt t he pl an s hown on F i gur e J and i n gr eat er det ai lon Fi gur e g l ~xc ept f or t hos e as pec t s of i t whi ch dealWi t h r ai l r api d t r a ns i t and uni f i cat i on of t r ansi t · F. 2oper c. t i ons ' , and ~' J it h t he Cont r ol Busi nes s Di st r i ct , beadopt ed Wi t h t ho f ol l owi ng modi f i cat i ons:

An addi t i onal par kway i s pr opos ed t hr ough t he SonFer nando Val l e: T t o connoct wi t h t he Hor memdi o Par kWayby passi ng t hr ough Gr i f f i t h Por k .

And t he amendment s t o t ho Par kway Pl an as pr opos edby t ho Bur ecu of Engi neer i ng ar e os f ol l ows:

The connect i on bet ween t ho Voni ce P~r kwoy ond t heSepul vedo P~r ~wGv ext endi ng f r om t ho i nt er s ec t i on of t he Veni ce end Oceon P~r kucys t o t ho Sepul veda Park-way a t F l or enc o Boul evar d.

The r e- al i gnmont of t h~ I ngl ewood Par kDoy f r om t heSepul vedo Park~ay t o Anahoi m Por k1vay.

tIer ; connec t i on bot w8on L ong Beach P~r kr J Ci Yand Ter mi nalI s l and.

New par b? cy on Ter mi nal I s l ond and connect i ons wi t hHo. r bor Pc : r k1, ' l ny.

New ext ensi on of Sant e: Ano Par k11Cl Yf r om Ol ympi c Par kwnyt o Romona Par b/ oy •.

Re- al i gnmont of Ol ympi c P: r kRoy f r om Eas t By- pas s t oSant e Ana Par kway.

Ext ens i on of Ri ver s i de Par kway f r om Ar r oyo Seco Par k-way t o Ramona Par k TI ay~

Ar t osi a Par kway ext endi ng f r om I ngl ewood Par kv. / 8' Tt oSant a Ana Par kway.

The r e- al i gnment of t he Sepul veda Par l ~vay f r omRi ver si de Par kway t o Sant a Moni ca Par l {Way.


54/61

\.

,« ~ y o '> t . .iT t: T D ii; ' : : . ,: : : c : : " ' P ' " ,S . .; Z ; i ; h . , . , , . ' . ." ' , ; ; :;• .' \ f L .~ ., .D . ; f ; f t . . ~ .

\. g

..\?~

:t t$ ;~ ~ c n ti'" , ~ " ,:: 7 ij! > n :f ! ? iJ f ::U F '! ! Y '- " , - - : I [ ' , 1

~ . : : . I

' , * , " " " " " " ' " , , " ' ) !~~s~~ .u !PARKlIi'IY

ROUTES" IN

·--iF

IC ENTRAL S EC TION Ql' THE . D IST.RJ C ~ A W ~

, - - . " i t : , I

AND THE

METROPOLITAN AREA


55/61

, ,L _ ~ , ( _ _J

- - / i

Ii

II

IiI

III

-----_!

I,

II,

I;----_ . _ -~

I !

iAZUSA,, ', _ _ . . r I

~ ._.i

( WEST COVlNA

<-'- . • . .

'..r -----.----\

"POMONA f~

t : - - - - - - - - - r 1----- _'"

__ J

/I

I

r.

lLEGENDEXPRESS HIGHWAYRoUT

- - - - - - - RAn. RAPID TRANSIT Rou

___ PLANNIN'G DEPARTMENT'S

ADDITION" To PL AN

i//, -

ISANTAANA(,

-----1

iii, I

L----L~j

PARKWAY PLAN OF ~HE

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING BOA

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

1939


56/61

Io ,

SCALE - MILES

LEGEND

WIDE PARK~~YRWAYNARROW MO

R AIL R APID TRANSIT

PL ANNING DEP ARTMENTS

~C ADDITION TO PLANIt. 4PEFlIAL

-

W

C l

NCHESTEA

RIVERSIDE

SCALE MILES

L G N

PARKWAY

WIDE MOTOR

WAY

N R R ~ P I O

TRANSIT

R I L EP RTMENTS

PL NNI

J ADDITION TO

PL N


57/61

~~~/I':i"

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~,~~

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J \\ 'i$ '

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' ' . 1 1 1 1 1 1 \ \ '

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a:«(l..

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

AND THE

METROPOLITAN AREA

~\' j\l.

11 1 ">4 //1 1 "


58/61

2. That t he per kway r i ght - of - way be suf f i ci ent l y wi de sot hat t hey wi l l f unc t i on as par ~7ays i n t ho t r ue se nseof t he t er m. They s houl d be not l es s t han 250 f eet wi de,pr ef e ra bl y as wi de as 400 f oet wher e possi bl e, t oobvi at e any f ut ur e acqui si t i on of r i ght - of - way.

3. That mor e det ai l e d st udy be gi v en t he pl an wi t h a v i ewof pr oduc i ng bet t er def i ned bol t or by- pas s r o~t es .

4. That t he pl an be car r i ed out at once s o t ho max i mumbonof i t s mau be der i v ed f r om i t .

5. That i mmedi o. t o st udv be gi v en t o t h0 f i nanc i ng of t hescheme, and t hat t ho poss i bi l i t y of i nt ore st i ng al lgover nment al ngonci Gs t o par t i c i pat e be ex pl or ed.

6. That on Qut hor i t y be f or me d, suc h as pr ovi ded by t hePar b1cy Aut hor i t y Bi l l i nt r oduced i nt o t ho 1941 St at eLegi sl at ur o, under ~hose admi ni st r at i on t ho par k~oyswi l l bo bui l t .


59/61

among whi c h ar e: t hat t he sys~em be f i nanc ed by l ev yi ng t o l l s f or

t he us e of t he par k ways ; t hat a gas t ax be i mpos ed - t ho pr oc eeds


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61/61

OUTER DRIVE, CHICAGO. This 8-lane " perfect mile" has had an averag e annual t raff ic of 20 m il lion vehicle-

miles for 7 years with only two fatalities. Modern Parkway d esign results in safety and o per ating economy.

AR ROYO SEC O PAR KW AY (near Avenue 43) is the West's -most notable example of modern freeway d esign.

This six mile park way constitutes six of the nine mile highway link between the business d istr icts of Los Angeles

and Pasad ena. Aver age running time between the two points is r educed f r om 27 to 12 minutes.

1941 Parkway Plan City Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

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