Before I even thought about being a planner, I was positively affected by good planning. In the late nineties, San Francisco completed a typical "road diet" by replacing two lanes of traffic on a four lane roadway with a center turn lane and bike lanes. My first reaction was, "What, they can DO that??" and my second was a sigh of relief as my bicycle commute down Valencia Street went from a white-knuckled race to a calm, relaxing ride. That extra five feet of space made all the difference, and over the next few months I watched as more and more bicyclists started sharing the lane with me.
My experience on Valencia Street sparked my interest in bicycle and pedestrian planning. Since then I've realized that progressive transportation planning can bring so much more to society than a bike lane or two. I'm now involved in access plans for people with disabilities, Safe Routes to School programs, and projects that address mobility and equity issues.
I see bicycle and pedestrian planning as my small way of contributing to the greater good of society and improving our ability to coexist with the natural world. I am proud to work for a company that is committed to this work.
Lauren Ledbetter has nine years of technical writing, data analysis and research experience. Since coming to work for Alta in 2005, she has developed bicycle master plans, pedestrian master plans, Safe Routes to School programs, and trail feasibility studies. Ms. Ledbetter has secured nearly $1 million in Safe Routes to School grant funding for Alta’s clients. She brings to Alta excellent project management, writing, GIS and graphics skills and is well-versed in transportation demand management strategies, bicycle and pedestrian travel behavior, and count and survey methodologies. Ms. Ledbetter earned her Master's Degree in Urban Planning from UCLA with a concentration in transportation planning. She is an avid bicyclist and has been instrumental in establishing a pedestrian advocacy group for the City of Los Angeles.
Recent Projects
- Lafayette Bikeways Master Plan
Ms. Ledbetter managed the development of the City of Lafayette’s Bikeways Master Plan. The plan involved extensive collaboration with city staff and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to develop a network of on- and off-street bikeways that would serve all areas of the community. Ms. Ledbetter incorporated innovative recommendations, such as using shared lane markings through a constrained roadway section in the main commercial district. She presented the plan to the Circulation Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. The plan was adopted in September 2006. - City of Santa Clarita Nonmotorized Transportation Plan
Ms. Ledbetter managed the development of a Nonmotorized Transportation Plan for the City of Santa Clarita, located in northern Los Angeles County. The plan addresses bicycle, pedestrian and trail elements and includes recommendations for new bikeways and trails, Safe Routes to School, design guidelines for pedestrian and bicycle access, and recommendations for land use that can encourage biking and walking. Ms. Ledbetter contributed her research, writing, GIS analysis and graphics skills. - Marin County Safe Routes to School
Ms. Ledbetter has been providing ongoing engineering and graphics support for the Marin County Safe Routes to School program. In association with Parisi Associates Transportation Consulting, Ms. Ledbetter has developed over 30 improvement plans for school areas. The improvement plans are based on issues identified during school walk audits with parents, teachers, neighbors and school administrators. Ms. Ledbetter’s photo-simulation skills, clear graphic presentation and understanding of state and federal requirements for school area signage and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure have led to easily understandable, accurate and feasible implementation plans.
