Friends,

For the first time ever, last week we took a breather to collect our breath and do some planning for 2012.  Even though the week between Christmas and the New Year is supposed to be a slow one, we saw a lot of news break last week and our work cut out for us in the early week of 2012.  Coming later this week:

• An update of how, if at all, the FTA’s approval of environmental documents for the Crenshaw/LAX corridor changes the debate between Metro and the Crenshaw Subway Coalition going forward.
• A look at the Southern California Association of Government’s pedestrian plan for the next couple of decades.
• An update on Neighbors for Smart Rail’s appeal of a decision to toss their lawsuit against Expo Phase II.
• A strong preference for bike lanes in a poll asking residents their opinion of a Slausson Street redesign in South L.A.
• A quick case study of how a toll road plan behind the Orange Curtain is a case study in how road planning just moves forward, roadblocks be dammed.

One of the benefits of using this format is that you can tell me what, if anything, I’m missing.  If there’s a big story from the end of 2011 or the start of 2012 I’ll do my best to do some research and get back to you.  Maybe we’ll do a story, maybe it will just be a reply in the comments section.  Either way, leave your thoughts and questions below.