Other Highlights
MAYOR ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2009
Contact:
Lisa Hansen
213-978-0658
-or-
Press Office
213-978-0741
MAYOR PLANS TO ACCELERATE PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECTS
“30/10” Will Push to Accelerate Use of Measure R Transit Funding
LOS ANGELES - Promoting his vision for sustainability and an improved public transportation system, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced that he is beginning to build a coalition to support the acceleration of the 30 years of transit projects included in Measure R into 10 years. The “30/10” program would leverage the $13 billion approved by voters for 12 transit projects to expedite construction and bring jobs and environmental benefits to LA sooner.
"Thirty years is too long to wait when we can build all twelve projects in the next decade,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “When we have workers hungry for high quality jobs, companies that are ready to hire, the dirtiest air, and the worst traffic congestion in the nation, thirty years is just too long.”
In a speech at the Los Angeles Business Council’s Annual Mayoral Housing, Transportation, and Jobs Summit held today at UCLA, the Mayor outlined his plan to build a coalition of transit advocates, environmentalists, business, labor, health advocates, and community groups to support the “30/10” program.
The “30/10” Coalition would draw on the same groups that last year helped pass Measure R, the local half-cent sales tax, by 68% during a recession.
"This is about transforming a region, increasing access to and efficiency of public transit and creating sustainable communities and a thriving economy,” Mayor Villaraigosa added.
Preliminary projections of the sustainability benefits of “30/10” include:
• 1.8 times more carbon dioxide removed from the air
• 2.4 times more nitrous oxides removed from the air
• 2.2 times fewer miles driven
• 4.2 times more new rail boardings
• The creation of over half a million jobs through 2020.
Because Measure R will provide approximately $13 billion for transit projects over the next 30 years, the MTA will have the ability to repay funds with guaranteed local sales tax revenues. This unique local match capacity is expected to open opportunities for advancing the funding and paying it back over time.
Once a strong coalition of support for “30/10” is built, they will reach out to Congress, the Obama Administration, and others to build support and develop a financing plan for the acceleration of the projects.
Last week the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved its Long Range Transportation Plan for the next 30 years. The 12 projects are estimated to cost $20 billion and include $6.8 billion in non-Measure R funding.
The Measure R transit projects Villaraigosa plans to accelerate include:
• The Westside subway extension
• The Regional Connector light rail connector in Downtown Los Angeles
• The Crenshaw corridor transit project
• The Foothill Extension of the Metro Gold Line
• The Expo light rail line on the Westside Phase 2
• The Green Line connection to LAX
• The Green Line extension to the South Bay
• A San Fernando Valley 405 Corridor Connection
• The Orange Line Canoga Extension
• West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
• San Fernando Valley North-South Rapidways
• Eastside Extension to El Monte or Whittier