Mayor Agrans Plan to Make Irvine the Greenest City in America

Mayor Larry Agran is determined to establish Irvine as the "Greenest City in America," leveraging the city's recent ranking among the top ten greenest cities in the nation. The city's park system, recognized as the best in California and second nationwide, is set to be enhanced through an Urban Forest Master Plan that will introduce thousands of new trees. Agran's vision includes a large-scale solar rooftop program, which would enable residents to significantly reduce electricity costs while lowering the city's overall carbon emissions. His long-standing commitment to environmental preservation began in 1988 when he helped protect over 10,000 acres of wilderness, and he is now seeking opportunities to expand this open space further. The city is also replacing the All American Asphalt plant with a new 600-acre "Gateway Preserve," which will feature hiking and biking trails.

Additionally, the expansion of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail includes a bridge that will connect existing trails across the I-5 Freeway. The recent approval of a phased expansion of the Irvine CONNECT transit system aims to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality, especially benefiting youth and seniors. Agran emphasized that addressing traffic issues is crucial for enhancing air quality and achieving the goal of making Irvine America’s greenest city.