Challenging Cost Estimates and Misleading Figures in Transportation Planning

This week on Upzoned, host Abby Newsham is joined by Michael Schneider, founder of Streets for All and the campaign manager for Healthy Streets Los Angeles. They discuss an article from The Los Angeles Times titled, “L.A. bus and bike lane measure will cost $3.1 billion, a new report says. Backers cry foul.” This piece was written in advance of the ballot proposal Measure HLA, which was recently approved by voters, and mandates the installation of hundreds of miles of transportation improvements in L.A. over the next decade, with a focus on bike lanes and sidewalk improvements.

(Editor’s note: This episode was recorded before the results of the ballot were released.)

• “L.A. bus and bike lane measure will cost $3.1 billion, a new report says. Backers cry foul,” by David Zahniser, The Los Angeles Times (February 2024).

• “The People of Los Angeles Just Said ‘Yes’ to Safer Streets,” by Asia Mieleszko, Strong Towns (March 2024).

• Streets for All (website).

• Healthy Streets Los Angeles (website).

• Michael Schneider (LinkedIn; X/Twitter).

• Abby Newsham (X/Twitter).

• Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.