Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, July 30, 2024…
- A persistent misconception about Los Angeles is that the city doesn’t have a real mass transit system, especially when it comes to buses. But L.A. has one of the largest transit ridership levels in the country. Unfortunately, many of the bus shelters are shoddy, with no canopies, shelters or night time lighting. But the city is working to make improvements.
- The Park Fire continues to grow in Northern California. The fire has now grown to more than 380,000 acres, now the fifth largest in state history.
- All the wildfires burning in California are causing unhealthy air for many communities across the state. And according to a new study, wildfire smoke increases the risk of dementia, more than other air pollutants.
LA Slowly Works To Improve Bus Stops
Los Angeles commuters who use public transit, particularly the city’s bus system, have been waiting for improvements for awhile. And not necessarily to the buses themselves – but the actual bus stops.
Back in late 2023, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced that she has secured funding to address some of the effects of the climate crisis, mostly by building more shade structures. Roughly $93.5 million dollars will be allocated toward addressing extreme heat, with the majority of the funding for building bus shelters. Other money will go toward planting more trees and installing cooling pavement.
The funding, said Councilmember Imelda Padilla, will help the city add 3,000 more bus shelters and 450 shade structures over 10 years. Many bus stops are currently in very poor condition – with no canopies or shelter, nighttime lighting, or in some cases, a place to sit.
Park Fire Now State’s Fifth Largest
As of Tuesday morning, the Park Fire, burning in four Northern California counties, has scorched more than 383,000 acres.