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Masters Thesis

Sylmar resiliency plan: traffic congestion

[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] The community of Sylmar is situated along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains at the northernmost edge of the City of Los Angeles. Locally known for its olive trees and equestrian culture, the area derives its name from two Latin words meaning "sea of trees." The area was colonized by Spain in 1769 and is originally home to the Tataviam Indigenous people. Gradually, a thriving agricultural community emerged. At the outset of the 20th century, nearly 2,000 acres of olive orchards covered the area. In 1915, shortly after the Los Angeles Aqueduct brought water to the San Fernando Valley, the City of Los Angeles annexed Sylmar. To accommodate substantial population growth, agricultural land was re-developed for more suburban uses. Semi-rural and equestrian characteristics are evident in some Sylmar neighborhoods today, retaining features from its rural past. Today, both Sylmar's semi-rural and urban areas are susceptible to natural disaster. Earthquakes and wildfires are known to affect the community, the most recent disaster being the Saddleridge Fire of 2019. Despite the community's tragic history with disasters, Sylmar's emerging youth, culture, and modern developments point to a more resilient future. Sylmar boasts one of the lowest population densities in the City of Los Angeles with only 5,579 people per square mile. It is also moderately diverse with a Latinx population of 69.8%, a white population of 20.7%, a black population of 4.1%, and an Asian population of 3.4%. The neighborhood is also relatively youthful with a median age of 28 years old. Since 2000, Sylmar's population has continued to grow. More recent reports estimate that the population is upwards of 80,000 residents, indicating that community resilience is needed more than ever before. Community resilience refers to a neighborhood's ability to utilize available resources to effectively respond, withstand, and recover from the shocks and stressors of adverse situations. Community engagement, in addition to both short and long term planning efforts, will lead to a more resilient Sylmar. To improve resiliency, residents and key stakeholders must understand what assets and resources currently exist in their community. Resiliency planning strengthens community networks by identifying weaknesses and recognizing opportunities for improvement. To document and contribute to Sylmar's resilience, 16 indicators were analyzed: community networks, housing conditions, water and energy, crime and safety, traffic safety, business environment, public transportation, traffic congestion, streetscape conditions, parks and open space, food environment, community gardens, air quality, environmental justice, natural disasters, urban heat island, and tree canopy. Reducing traffic congestion is essential for the health of Sylmar residents. On average, Sylmar has lower traffic congestion compared to the rest of Los Angeles. Sylmar is more car dependent, and its residents prefer to drive alone. Long stressful commutes reduce the time spent being active and increase the risk of obesity. Although Sylmar has a lower adult obesity prevalence level than the rest of Los Angeles, Sylmar is still at risks from health precursors caused by overweight conditions. Alternative forms of transportation, primarily active forms of travel can improve physical health and reduce obesity. Reducing traffic congestion is important for the mental state of Sylmar residents. Sylmar's high levels of commute and preferred method of travel does have a detrimental effect on mental issues such as stress and depression. More time spent commuting reduces the time spent with family and participating in the community. Studies suggest that long commutes induce stress that can cause psychological strain and leads commuters to have negative attitudes towards commuting and the workplace. Lower sense of control when dealing with traffic congestion, fatigue, and unpredictable trip durations are more likely to cause depression. Alternative modes of travel can help reduce the risks of mental health by providing a space of relaxation, and with advancements in communication technology, commuting can be a time of productivity. Public involvement is essential when it comes to building a resiliency plan. Sylmar community members were actively involved in this process by participating in expert interviews, attending two Sylmar Neighborhood Council Meeting, one Community Resiliency Plan Meetings, providing feedback during presentations, engaging with our team via social media, and completing online surveys. These activities resulted in recommendations by the CSUN Urban Planning graduate students to develop recommendations for the Sylmar Resiliency Plan. In Fall 2020, expert interviews were conducted based on a specified indicator assigned to each student. These interviews provided vital information that was necessary to help build a strong foundation for the community. A series of meeting were held via Zoom on October 8, 2020, February 25, 2021, and April 10, 2021. At these meetings, students provided background information on assigned indicators, discussed the definition of resiliency, and provided recommendations and next steps to community members. After these meetings, three online surveys were made available through Qualtrics and distributed through social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) to the attendees and the entire community of Sylmar. After the October 8, 2021 meeting was held there were seventy-one (71) respondents. After the February 25, 2021 meeting there were three hundred and twelve (312) respondents. After the April 10, 2021 meeting there were eight (8) respondents. Based on this feedback from the meeting recommendations were developed. Improving bicycle network connections by incorporating to a multi-modal transportation system and provide easy to access public spaces such as public transit hubs, parks, employment, and shopping centers will increase mobility. Bicycling reduces demand of automobiles and in return improves air quality, alleviates congestion, and creates safer streets. Sylmar's mild weather, relatively flat terrain, and a combination of marked bicycle lanes and walking paths create a safe environment by reducing accidents with automobiles. Bicycling also leads to healthier lifestyles by improving physical activity that can reduce health problems associated with physical inactivity such as obesity and heart disease. Promotional campaigns that detail the benefits of the need for a bicycle network provided by the neighborhood education institutions community centers, recreational centers and advocacy groups can change the way Sylmar resident respond to commuting within Sylmar. There are countless of bicycle advocacy organizations in Los Angeles that promote the advantages of bicycling. One such group is the Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) appointed by the City Council and Mayor to advise the City of Los Angeles on mobility and pedestrian issues that affect the community. Sylmar residents can contact their council member from the Los Angeles City Council District 7 and ask to improve the bicycle infrastructure in their neighborhood. Another way Sylmar residents can help promote the use of bicycling is to go out there and ride a bike and encourage family and friends to ride through the use of social media.

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