The Los Angeles Streetcar Workshop

STREET SMART: STREETCARS AND CITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008

Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, Downtown Los Angeles
7:30am Registration â‹… Coffee and Continental Breakfast

8:00am WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

• José Huizar, Los Angeles Councilmember, 14th District
• Jan Perry, Los Angeles Councilmember, 9th District
• Glenn Wasserman, Chief Operating Officer, Community Redevelopment Agency / Los Angeles

8:30am WHY MODERN STREETCARS AND WHY NOW?

• Gloria Ohland, Reconnecting America; author of award-winning "Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the

21st Century"

8:45am - 10:45am PANEL DISCUSSION #1

STREETCARS 101

A 2-hour discussion about how streetcar systems shape development, stimulate economic development, increase transit ridership and connectivity, and leverage private investment in high-quality public space. Stories and lessons learned from Seattle & Portland about the affect of streetcar systems on urban development and sustainable living. Overview of political and funding strategies and the outlook for federal funding for streetcars through the FTA's Small Starts program. Questions will be taken from the audience as time allows at the end of the panel discussion.

MODERATORS:

José Huizar, Los Angeles City Councilmember, 14th District
Jessica Wethington McLean, Planning & Economic Development Director, Office of Councilmember José Huizar

PANELISTS:

Vicky Diede: Streetcar Project Manager, Portland Streetcar, City of Portland
Michael Powell: Business Owner, Powell's Books, Portland
Ken Johnsen: Principal, Shiels Obletz Johnsen; Project Director, South Lake Union Streetcar
Jared Smith: Senior Vice President, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Seattle
Charlie Hales: Sr. Vice President &Transit Planning Principal, HDR Portland; Former Portland Transportation
Commissioner
Jeff Boothe: Partner, Holland & Knight; Chair, New Starts Working Group; Executive Director, Community
Streetcar Coalition
GB Arrington: Principal Practice Leader, Parsons Brinckerhoff PB Placemaking

10:45am - 11:30am PANEL DISCUSSION #2

FROM THE RED CAR TROLLEY OF YESTERYEAR TO THE MODERN STREETCAR OF TOMORROW

The City of Los Angeles is about to embark on the second phase of a feasibility study for a downtown L.A.
streetcar, which has the support of downtown's major public and private stakeholders. L.A. once had the largest
electric trolley system in the U.S., with 6,000 trains running on 144 routes in four counties. A new streetcar system
would be modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly - a departure from the tourist trolley, or vintage streetcar of
decades past. Hear about the genesis of the current interest in a modern streetcar transportation system for
downtown, what's been done thus far, what the next steps will be and how you can be involved.
Questions will be taken from the audience as time allows at the end of the panel discussion.

MODERATOR:
Curt Gibbs, Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles
PANELISTS:
Steve Schiboula, Director, IBI Group
Homer Williams, Chairman, Williams & Dame Development
Steve Brye, Project Manager, METRO, Los Angeles

11:30am - 12:15pm PANEL DISCUSSION #3

"OK, BUT WHAT ABOUT...?" Questions of the morning panelists posed by city & downtown leaders

City and downtown leaders ask the advice of the national experts about issues relevant to Los Angeles: Topics may include: How will a streetcar system link to other transit options downtown? Why a modern streetcar, instead of a vintage trolley? Why rails, not rubber wheels? Who will ride a streetcar? How would a downtown L.A. streetcar system really get funded? What does that mean for property owners? How can we leverage private investment in affordable housing and high-quality parks and public space? What options exist for federal funding? And more! Lunch will be served immediately following this panel.

MODERATOR:

Tim Baldwin, Transportation Planner / Senior Associate, URS Corporation

QUESTIONS FROM:

Carol Schatz, President & CEO, Central City Association / Downtown Center Business Improvement District
Emily Gabel-Luddy, Principal City Planner, Urban Design Studio, City of Los Angeles Department of Planning
Russell Brown, Executive Director, Historic Downtown L.A. Improvement District; President, Downtown L.A.
Neighborhood Council
Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, Transportation Development and Implementation, METRO, Los Angeles
Jay Kim, Senior Transportation Engineer, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation

12:15pm - 1:15pm CASUAL / BOX LUNCH PROVIDED FOR ALL ATTENDEES IN THEATRE LOBBY

Panel Discussion #4 will begin at 1:15pm, immediately following lunch

1:15pm – 2:15pm PANEL DISCUSSION #4 STREETCARS 202: DESIGN, FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION

How are streetcars different from light rail? What does a starter system look like and how much does it cost?
Choosing the right system, boundaries and alignment. Storage & maintenance requirements. Limiting costs and
designing to budget and addressing other infrastructure needs.
Questions will be taken from the audience as time allows at the end of the panel discussion.

PANELISTS:

Tom Hickey, National Transit Planning Manager, Gannett Fleming, Philadelphia
Mark Dorn, Senior Project Manager, URS Corporation, Portland
John Schumann, Senior Transportation Consultant, LTK Engineering Services
David Taylor, Director of Sustainable Transportation Solutions, HDR
James Graebner, Chair, American Public Transit Association (APTA) Streetcar and Heritage Trolley and Streetcar
Subcommittee, Denver

2:15pm – 3:15pm PANEL DISCUSSION #5 LOCAL CASE STUDIES

Brief case studies will be presented on projects in Pasadena, Santa Ana, San Pedro and Irvine, with a discussion
about some outstanding issues with each project. Questions will be taken from the audience as time allows at the end of the panel discussion.

MODERATOR: Rich Weaver, Director of Planning & Programs American Public Transit Association (APTA)

PANELISTS:

Fred Dock, Director of Transportation, City of Pasadena
Toni Bates, Senior Planning Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff
Bob Henry, Port of Los Angeles Harbor Commission / San Pedro Streetcar
Jolene Hayes, Supervising Transportation Analyst, City of Irvine,

3:15pm CLOSING REMARKS – City of Los Angeles / Council District 14