As a transportation researcher and urban planning lecturer, Juan Matute currently serves as deputy director of UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies. He's also the coordinator for the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Symposium Mega Events: Major Opportunities, where attendees met last month to "develop concrete plans for leveraging these megaevents to create lasting public benefits." Juan recently published a report on the symposium — which I also wrote about here at Torched — that highlights the frustrations and concerns about LA's current megaevent-planning approach.
I spoke with Juan in September about the goals for the symposium and it's been remarkable to watch how the program evolved from idea to execution. Juan thoughtfully convened 170 attendees from a wide range of perspectives, offering a space for criticism while building a constructive path forward. Along the way he's also built an encyclopedic knowledge of LA megaevent history. We'll talk about the report, its recommendations, and how LA, as a region, can meet its megaevent moment. And yes — in light of recent events, we will also talk about how LA still needs funding and approvals from the federal government for its megaevent-related transportation projects.
Here's a recording of this Torched Talks! If you want access to all these talks, become a paid subscriber now.
Torched Talks with UCLA's Juan Matute Monday, November 18 12 to 1 p.m. PT
💬 Torched Talks is an ongoing series of conversations with experts on topics facing LA in its megaevent era. Simply join the Zoom to watch. Become a paid subscriber and you'll have access to the video afterwards. Missed the last one? Watch October's Torched Talks featuring Katherine Perez, Aaron Paley, and Ruth Siegel of Los Angeles Tomorrow
A report from last month's UCLA Lake Arrowhead Symposium, intended to both illuminate existing challenges and light a path forward for progress, reveals deep frustrations and grave concerns about LA's megaevent planning
When the LA Phil season ended earlier this month, the Hollywood Bowl reported that the number of visitors who used the shuttles and park-and-ride buses this year had increased to an astounding 36 percent
