Get LA Moving

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, I’ve been absolutely swamped beyond healthy levels and simply have not had the time to contribute or take care of some of the more nefarious things happening to the layout. So much for keeping New Year’s resolutions. But I digress…

Damien Goodmon, creator of the now famous (at least amongst transit advocates and Los Angeles blogosphere readers) $40 billion hypothetical rail transit map for Los Angeles is launching a new plan and website called “Get LA Moving“. He, in conjunction with the Transit Coalition, is having a public presentation tonight at the Transit Coalition’s monthly meeting at Philippe’s downtown.

Here’s the contents of the email he sent for anyone who is interested:

About a year after I began to dream what an extensive urban rail transit system in Los Angeles would look like, we’re finally beginning to stretch our legs.

Tonight will be the first public presentation of the Get LA Moving Plan (outline below) at the Transit Coalition monthly meeting at Philippe’s in downtown: http://boards.eesite.com/board.cgi?boardset=ExpoLine&boardid=Lobby&thread=21&spec=6233646

I really can’t think of a better place to officially launch this effort than the intimate meeting of this phenomenal group of transit advocates, many of whom I directly credit for helping quickly bring me up to speed about the history and current state of mass transit in the southland. I look forward to their feedback and will use it - as I have done all comments - to strengthen the proposal.

If you’re unable to attend, we’re going to put the powerpoint presentation on our “temporary” website, which will be operational by the end of the week (likely by Thursday). I say “temporary” because we have big plans for the website and we’re going to need your help and the help of many others to get them accomplished.

The website and the map update are the product of Jason Law, an ordinary citizen simply contributing some free time and his talents to an effort to make our communities and our great city more livable.

I have spent so much time on this project because I wholeheartedly believe that our many skills and the talents of many others who have offered and will offer help can be combined to create a powerful website that fosters coalition building and activism. The plan sparks debate and the site will encourage it to spread through the web, while also directing individuals to existing transit advocacy efforts and support the creation of new ones.

As shown both by the columns/blogs of the LA Times’ Steve Lopez and the blog coverage of the old version of the map, there’s a passionate desire for solutions to our mobility crisis among Angelinos. All that is needed is our leadership and coordination to transform these strong sentiments into winds of change.

Stay tuned…we’re beginning to get good at this.

Sincerely,
Damien Goodmon

Sounds like a very exciting idea, and if my workload slows down tonight I definitely plan on attending, and so should you!