General Plan Update - City of Inglewood

3.8 Circulation
3.8 CIRCULATION
The Circulation section provides the transportation context for the General Plan by
describing existing circulation and traffic conditions, plans, and policies that have a
bearing on overall mobility in the City of Inglewood. This report serves as reference
material and technical appendix for the Circulation Element.
• Purpose of the Element
The fundamental goal of the Circulation Element is to lay the groundwork for and
promote the development of a coordinated, multi-modal citywide transportation system
to meet the needs of all people living, working or visiting the City and all economic
segments of the community. The City must achieve transportation goals while integrating
and maintaining internal consistency with parts of the transportation systems that are
under the control of other local, regional, and state agencies. The Circulation Element
correlates all transportation issues into a set of coherent policies: the goals, objectives,
policies, and programs of the element relate directly to other elements and issues
addressed in the General Plan.
The purpose of the Circulation Element is to set forth strategies to support the
production of a circulation system consistent with the overall vision specified for the City.
A well functioning transportation system in the City is of vital importance and a high
priority. The State Legislature requires local governments to address this priority while
considering economic, environmental, and fiscal factors and community goals set forth in
the General Plan. This background report will be used in formulating the circulation
policies and programs and will be reformatted herein to be consistent with the overall
General Plan program.
• Roadway System
The classification of streets establishes a hierarchy of function for the circulation system
of Inglewood. Traffic volume and street widths are not the only factors used for such
classification, particularly in this city where existing narrow streets must often serve
functions greater than their roadway widths should warrant. The actual use and location
of streets are therefore also significant factors in the classification of Inglewood streets.
Freeways
Freeways are generally considered the most efficient type of highway for the movement
of vehicles. These facilities were originally intended to serve longer trips of regional and
interurban length. Caltrans, the State of California’s Department of Transportation, is
responsible for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance or improvement of
freeways.
City of Inglewood General Plan Update Technical Background Report
3.8-1