June 15, 2022: WTS-Los Angeles hosted a panel discussion on Complete Streets: Transportation Access and Connectivity. Organized and moderated by WTS-LA platinum corporate sponsor, Parsons, the program featured:  

Moderator: Lisa Maurath, PE, Sr. Vice President, Parsons 

Panel: 

• Sarah Jepson, Planning Director, Southern California Association of Governments
• Pamela Lee, Supervising Transportation Planner II Vision Zero, Active Transportation, and Neighborhood Streets, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation
• Laura Cornejo, Transportation Director, City of Pasadena 

The panel discussed how the definition and implementation of complete streets have evolved over the years. All recognized the role of increasing safety for all users of roadways and how roadways function as the economic engines in our cities. Seeking and incorporating input from the community is crucial. A challenge is where to invest their resources. Equity in investment location and modality is also a challenge; for instance ​transit is a very important component of complete streets.

Partnering amongst cities and regional agencies such as SCAG, Metro, and Foothill Transit. In addition, working with community-based organizations has helped with investment being better utilized.

In terms of safety, the panel is seeing issues with high speeds on roadways, especially in the past three years. You can’t design your way out of addressing every safety issue, so encouraging all to share the roadway with others safely and partnering with cities to enforce and/or lower speed limits play a big part. 

Photos of Complete Streets program.