UCLA Bicycle Academy submits Public Comments to VA National Cemetery Advisory Meeting

On June 22/23, 2016 the Veterans Administration will hold its annual meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials. Rather arcane stuff you may think, but when you find yourself screaming against the noise of speeding cars on Wilshire Blvd under the I-405, that is precisely the place where you need to bring your discontent. You are looking for a safe walking route between Brentwood and Westwood and find yourself forced, without alternative, onto the margins of a vulcano of motordom, traffic roaring past you, above you, around you, barely missing you as you need to cross one freeway ramp, another freeway ramp, one more freeway ramp, one yet one more freeway ramp. Before 9-11, a pedestrian gate at the eastern side of the National Cemetery would safely deliver you to Kinross & Veteran, avoiding the pedestrian nightmare that unfolds every day under the I-405. Now is a good time to re-open this gate.

The notice for the meeting in June invites public comment. Here is what the UCLA Bicycle Academy has submitted:

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert MacDonald
Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Ronald Walters 
Members of Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials
Robin.Cooper@va.gov


The UCLA Bicycle Academy was founded in 2008 as a group of UCLA faculty and staff. Our aim is to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to campus. 

For 14 years, pedestrians and cyclists at UCLA have complained that access to UCLA from the West is virtually impossible. Brentwood and Westwood are divided by the I - 405. But they are also connected by the green expanse of the VA West LA site and the LANC. A short walk or a pleasant bike ride before 9/11 has since become a stressful, unsustainable drive across the intersection of Wilshire Blvd and I – 405, ranked the busiest in the nation. After 9/11, a minor change at the LANC has created a major impact for vulnerable road users. Over 14 years, it led to the untold waste of resources, air pollution affecting our communities, and preempting healthy commute modes. The reason: The cemetery closed a pedestrian gate at the intersection of Veteran and Constitution Ave.

Our research found that the National Institute of Building Sciences issued a report to the VA in 2002 which offered detailed risk assessments of “VA facilities that must remain mission operational during periods of emergencies or national crisis.” Compiled in the aftermath of 9/11, the report included national cemeteries among the facilities which deserve highest levels of security protection. This assessment justified the closure of a pedestrian gate of the LANC. 

There are plans to expand the LANC, but for the well delimited geography in question, the cemetery is not active. There are no new interments. It is not clear to us what “mission operational” means for an non-active cemetery. We would like to ask the Secretary and the committee to consider if a non-active cemetery still deserves the high security classification suggested in the 2002 report. If this classification can be suspended, we would like to start a conversation about a pilot program for controlled non-driving access at the closed gate, without impacting the special ceremonial requirements of the site. We refer to the arrangements made for commuter cyclists at Arlington National Cemetery, which is an active cemetery. We believe that a controlled access pilot

• could benefit a large number of  (homeless) veteran wheelchair users who will soon reside on the VA site and currently have no safe (ADA) route to access educational and recreational facilities in Westwood 
• could offer employment opportunities for veterans
• could receive support from UCLA because it would facilitate non-driving traffic between the VA hospital and UCLA Medical school, which have very close relations.  

As part of a court settlement, the VA has recently released a masterplan for the VA site adjacent to the cemetery. The site will house many homeless veterans. The plan includes a traffic study which has failed to consider the specific transportation needs of a population which has rarely access to a private car. Many homeless veterans are wheelchair users, pedestrians or use a bicycle for transportation. The closed cemetery gate poses a insurmountable barrier for them trying access destinations in Westwood. The only alternative route crosses freeway on-ramps, is extremely hostile and dangerous for vulnerable road users, and has been the site many serious and fatal collisions.

Please submit your own comments to Robin.Cooper@va.gov