TRANSIT ADVISORY OFFICE: AN APPROACH TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN A DECENTRALIZED ENVIRONMENT

Historically, in Los Angeles County, transportation planning has taken place at the regional or subregional level. This situation was dramatically changed in July 1982 when the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) began allocating transit funds directly to cities as a result of a 1/2 cent increase in the county sales tax for public transit. Because responsibilities for transportation planning in the Los Angeles area had been centralized, there was little transportation planning expertise at the local level. To assist cities in transportation planning, the LACTC established the Transit Advisory Office. An approach to technical assistance developed by the LACTC during the first year of a 2-year grant funded by UMTA's Office of Service and Management Demonstrations is outlined. In the initial year of the program, the LACTC found that the highest demand was for the services of information provider and impartial mediator or facilitator. Major problems encountered included lack of communication between elected officials and city staff, a tendency toward overly ambitious projects, and a general apathy toward transit in some cities