Many Angelenos don’t know it, but there is a vision and a plan for the future of Los Angeles. The vision can be found in the City’s General Plan Framework.  The vision is made up of eight guiding principles:
1)    Direct growth to the right places
2)    Provide homes for everyone
3)    Create enough jobs
4)    Create easy ways to get around
5)    Protect the environment and provide places to play
6)    Maintain infrastructure and public services
7)    Create a livable city
8)    Make it happen

These guiding principles are primarily implemented through the 35 Community Plans which make up the City’s Land Use element.

Beyond the General Plan Framework, we must look to the Central City North and Northeast Los Angeles Community Plans to find the visions for Lincoln Heights and Chinatown.  Their visions closely follow the General Plan framework, but here are some specifics on their transportation visions.

The Central City North Community Plan, which includes Chinatown, calls for safe, efficient and attractive bicycle and pedestrian routesas well as convenient alternatives to driving. The Northeast Los Angeles Community Plan, which includes Lincoln Heights, calls seeks to increase trips made on public transit as well as promote a good system of safe bikeways and pedestrian routes.  
    
These visions, which have been shaped by residents, have been supported even further by Mayor Villaraigosa who has called for Los Angeles to grow with “elegant density”.  To enhance our quality of life, and resolve problems from gridlock to climate change, Los Angeles will need to grow in a way that allows a full range of transportation options.  Angelenos of all ages will need convenient transit, and safe and convenient places to walk and bicycle.  New development will need to create opportunities for people to live close to their jobs to make real transportation options a reality.

The neighborhoods around the Chinatown and Lincoln/Cypress Metro Gold Line stations clearly have the transit amenities and the historic scale that supports density, and with emerging development, these areas offer a great opportunity to plan and create vibrant walkable neighborhoods in the heart of Los Angeles.