CVCA members and guests attending the Aug. 25 meeting heard from Desiree Rabinov about the new Metro Express Bus line 501 connecting North Hollywood with Pasadena. There is one stop in Glendale, at Sanchez and Brand eastbound and Goode and Brand westbound. Metro wants your feedback on the line. Ms. Rabinov encouraged Crescenta Valley residents to use the survey comments to tell Metro their desires for public transit connections to the new line. Details of the new line:
https://www.metro.net/riding/line501/.

Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/line501survey. The survey is commuter oriented so retired folks will have to improvise for their commute destination zip code.

L.A. County is also conducting an online survey to find out what style of advertising bus shelters the public wants in their neighborhood. See: https://survey.lacounty.gov/LACounty/se.ashx?s=645F266E7E5CFF74.

Please let your bus riding and potential bus riding friends and neighbors know about these opportunities to provide input.

We were also pleased to have Paul Rabinov update us on the efforts to get Glendale to do a feasibility study on the proposed Verdugo Wash Mixed Use Trail. The petition is now online: https://www.change.org/p/glendale-city-council-study-the-feasibility-of-a-path-along-the-verdugo-wash. Mr. Rabinov said approval of the feasibility study would go to the city council sometime next year. Potential funding is part of a ballot measure expected on the November ballot.

Car drivers: Consider that the more people who choose public transportation and bicycles for commuting and recreation mean fewer cars on the road ahead of you!

We discussed the recently released Montrose Vision 20/20 that outlines the Economic Development Department’s plan for the next five years. If you haven’t read the document it is available on the city’s website: http://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/glendale-economic-development-corporation/montrose-vision-20-20.

Sue Kilpatrick pointed out the vision seems to lack access for those who use a wheelchair. She noted that more handicapped parking with clear access routes, possibly including elevators, to street level and/or shop and restaurant entrances needs to be considered. If you concur and/or have other input on the plan you can send comments to Jennifer McLain, principal Economic Development officer, at jemclain@glendaleca.gov.

Rockhaven is noted in the document only as a Stakeholder Outside the District. I wonder how the vision for Montrose fits in with the city’s vision for Rockhaven. Would a boutique lifestyle commercial center take shoppers away from Montrose or complement it? How about a historic park? If you have thoughts about a more comprehensive vision for Montrose please share them with Ms. McLain too.

The Sept. 22 CVCA meeting will feature a presentation on some of the state ballot measures we’ll be voting on in November. The Glendale Burbank Chapter of the League of Women Voters will give a pro/con presentation on 10  or so of the 17 measures. Steering Committee members are reviewing the measures and determining which are most relevant to our mission. The California Secretary of State’s website has a list of the measures: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures/.

If you are particularly interested in certain measures please email me at sharon@jetcafe.org. The Sept. 22 meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is in the community room at the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. Park in the upper lot accessed from La Crescenta Avenue. Our meetings are free and open to the public.

We are planning a special CVCA meeting for Sept. 29 focusing on the 5th District L.A. County Supervisor and 25th District California Senate races. Please save the date and watch our Facebook page for details.