CHAPTER III.    ISSUES
The City of Los Angeles, and the Southern California region, face significant challenges in growth accommodation and mobility over the next twenty years. In many respects, it is difficult to distinguish the City's transportation problems from those of the region as a whole. As documented in Chapter II, population and employment are forecast to increase substantially. At the same time, the amount of funding projected to be available during the same twenty years to improve the existing City transportation system is limited. In preparing the Citywide General Plan Framework Element and the Transportation Element, and in facing these challenges, these broad themes emerged: sustained mobility / greater accessibility economic opportunity environmental quality
The following is a summary of key transportation issues which are derived from these broad themes, and which are based on analysis found in the Citywide General Plan Framework technical background reports and in Chapter 8 of the Framework: The quality of life for every resident of Los Angeles is affected by the ability to access work opportunities and essential services. Transportation policy must ensure that basic accessibility needs are met. Rail and bus transit improvements, transportation system management, and behavioral change strategies will all be needed to support the Citywide General Plan Framework concept and forecast growth. Significant investments in rail and bus transit, as well as public policies to encourage a shift away from the single-occupant vehicle, are required. Shifts toward new transit services and new technologies must also be incorporated to reduce impacts of vehicle travel. Transportation planning and programming decisions need to support the economic development/employment development strategy of the Citywide General Plan Framework which focuses growth in designated areas located throughout the City. The Framework and the Land Use / Transportation Policy provide a significant opportunity to reshape the City's urban form and dependence on automobiles. The Citywide General Plan Framework vision promotes conservation of the existing character of the City's neighborhoods. Conservation of residential neighborhoods requires actions to minimize or prevent intrusion of additional traffic into neighborhoods. To support all facets of the City's economy, the movement of goods must be efficient and access to major intermodal transfer facilities (such as ports, rail yards and airports) must be adequate. The continued vitality of the Port of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles International Airport are essential to the City's overall economic development goals and to the City's intermodal transportation functions. A comprehensive and long range strategic approach is needed to implement transportation improvements, services, and programs. This strategic approach is critical if the City is to establish appropriate priorities for allocation of funds and implementation of programs. Revitalization is critically needed in economically depressed areas of the City. The City's transportation system should provide mobility within these areas as well as link residents of these areas with economic opportunities and social services located throughout the City and region. Opportunities for economic development linked to transportation improvements should be fully exploited (e.g. Alameda Corridor). Recent improvements in air quality must be sustained, and significant further progress achieved in order to meet State and Federal mandates. Further progress will require a regional approach, in which the City must take a lead role. Advanced transportation technology (vehicles, fuels, telecommunications) is critical to success in both air quality improvement efforts and in economic opportunity enhancement. With the development of the rail transit system, there is an even greater need to preserve, enhance and/or create conditions conducive to pedestrian activity in order to encourage people to walk and shop in areas near their workplaces, transit stops, or residences.
The Citywide General Plan Framework provides the vision of a more livable and economically strong City for the 21st century. That vision includes an integrated multi-modal transportation system which provides choices and accessibility to everyone living and working in Los Angeles. This Transportation Element incorporates that vision, which is realistic and achievable. It cannot be achieved, however, without difficult decisions and a strong commitment to support the facilities and behavioral changes essential to that vision. Transportation investments and behavior must be adjusted through comprehensive strategies. In the following chapter, this Element sets forth goals, objectives, and policies which: (1) link the broad themes of sustained mobility and greater accessibility, enhanced environmental quality, and economic opportunity; (2) address the issues enumerated in this chapter; and (3) guide the implementation programs set forth in Chapter VII.

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