SustainLane 2006 US City Sustainability Ranking

Los Angeles: Significant Progress

Unhealthy inland air, poor tap water imported from afar, and semi-paralyzed roadways are enduring Los Angeles hallmarks, but the city has made significant progress toward becoming more sustainable.

For example, L.A. sits atop the recycling rankings (along with three other cities), and its 12 percent renewable energy use is surpassed only by Oakland's percentage. A new commitment to bus rapid transit and light rail have kept commuter use close to 10 percent, helping L.A. earn a surprising #8 ranking in regional public transit. While the city is exploring ways in which such efforts will provide new jobs and greater freedom from imported fossil fuels, maintaining a high quality of life remains L.A.'s most elusive challenge.

The city's new commitment to renewable energy and recycling are two bright spots, as are attempts to increase public transit with light rail, subway, and bus rapid transit. SustainLA is a project devoted to improving coordination among the city agencies that manage those systems.

L.A.'s freeway and road congestion, though, is a painful everyday situation that wastes fuel, cuts productive hours for the workforce, and even limits businesses' ability to get supplies in a timely manner. The eternally packed freeways are what playwright Sam Shepard likened to a giant ravenous serpent-and it shows no signs of being tamed.

L.A. must continue to improve public transit systems and increase ridership, facilitate more carpooling and carsharing, and develop more densely designed walkable areas similar to those in its "new downtown" to make the city economically competitive. The city currently facilitates carpooling only for city employees.