LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Transportation Planner Moving On


Leah Greenblat at her last Circulation Commission meeting on Nov. 3. Photo C. Tyson

Having been on the job for 15 years and one week, beloved transportation planner Leah Greenblat attended her very last Circulation Commission meeting recently - judging by the outpouring of support and thanks for her dedicated service, she leaves big shoes to fill.

"She's irreplaceable," said City Manager Steven Falk. "Leah has been worth her weight in gold, and I mean that almost literally. She's a remarkably good analyst and writer, and by my calculation she wrote and won more than $10 million in grants for Lafayette during her tenure here." He added, "She's brilliant; she's funny and fun; she's committed to and works hard for green transportation options; and she has the patience of a saint."

That patience comes in handy when dealing with a wide array of responsibilities and residents. For those not familiar with the duties of a transportation planner, there's never a dull moment; from sharrows to neighborhood traffic calming and multi-purpose pathways, along with providing professional analysis and recommendations on complex transportation issues, long and short range planning, and reviewing development applications focusing on circulation in and out of a project.

At the Circulation Commission, which deals with traffic safety issues, parking, pedestrian sidewalks and bike ways, residents and commissioners couldn't help but spell out what her work has meant to them. Chair Dino Riggio thanked her for all of her "patience, tact and generosity," presenting her with a lovely lemon tree from the group as a gesture of appreciation. Other commissioners, along with Council Member Traci Reilly, chimed in with positive accolades.

Commissioner Lynn Hiden said Greenblat understands the community unusually well and has the rare talent to look at issues and "sift out a solution," adding, "She handles complex, interwoven subjects with aplomb, works patiently, and has carried an enormous load for the City of Lafayette. There is very little in Lafayette that is transportation related that hasn't seen the fine hand of Leah Greenblat."

Cindy Sevilla, vice chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, recognized Greenblat for helping Lafayette to become a more sustainable community. Resident and property owner Joan Bruzzone offered a sweet card and lovely orchid along with her sincere thanks.

"After 15 years with Lafayette, I get great pleasure at looking around town and seeing what I consider to be positive, transformative improvements to its transportation network," said Greenblat. "I'm proud of the changes we made to Pleasant Hill Road south of the freeway; the downtown caliber sidewalks on Mt. Diablo Boulevard; the walkways on Springhill Road and Stanley Boulevard; the directional bikeway signage throughout the city, and my list goes on and on."

After wrapping things up in Lafayette, she'll be working for the Western Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, one of four Regional Transportation Planning Committees in the county that defines and implements policies, programs and projects to improve local and regional transportation and air quality - keeping people, bicycles and cars moving on an even larger scale.