Comments on: LTCC Struggles with Regional Connector

By: Damien Goodmon

Damien Goodmon — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:41:56 +0000

Cities and communities across the region have shown that you can balance the parking and pedestrian needs. It’s not an either or. Little Tokyo is a regional attraction, and people come from far away places within the Southland, which are not accessible or easily accessible to public transit.

The choice between the current underground option and the at-grade options is a choice between bad and worse.

The “underground option” has a street-level crossing at 1st/Alameda, which will require the construction of a 3-block long, over 100 foot wide vehicular trench on Alameda, and at the end of the day major restrictions on access to 1st. It’s a ridiculous contraption and it’s as ridiculous today as it was when MTA first proposed it over a year ago. MTA has refused to listen to this community’s concerns, just as they have refused to listen to the South LA community’s concerns on the Expo Line.

By: Simon Ha, AIA

Simon Ha, AIA — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:54:10 +0000

The community leaders of Little Tokyo have to let go the suburban mentality of ‘we need more parking’. I live in downtown and visit LT frequently using different modes of transportation. DASH, Metro, driving, and walking. I have not run into any parking problems other than paying to park, which can be avoid by using any of the other three more affordable and often more convenient methods.

LT is no longer a collection of strip malls with fields of surface parking. And it should not be as it is becoming a vibrant urban neighborhood. We need leaders of the community to understand what the future holds for LT and not be stuck in the issues of the present (such as traffic and parking which can be avoided by not bringing cars to the city) that hinder the growth of an infant city.

Many people are coming to LT and more are to come – to live and to visit. The priority for urban planning has to be geared towards pedestrians. We need to reserve precious real estate for great sidewalks, plazas, green space, housing, and amenities, not easy free parking.

By: James Fujita

James Fujita — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:48:00 +0000

Go with the Underground alignment.

The underground alignment will make it easier for Japanese Americans living outside of Little Tokyo to visit the area. Parking and traffic are horrible downtown, especially during the summer months.

The underground option will include an underground station near the Budokan, the Little Tokyo Library and the Kyoto Grand hotel. The at-grade option will not include this.

The Regional Connector will have an impact on the community, no matter what gets built. But the underground option will make sure that the impact is positive over the long run.

I’m glad that the MTA is reaching out to the community and I’m glad that they are adapting their plans. However, in the end, the best solution should be underground, not down the middle of the street.