metro sales tax measure approved; ball in legislature’s court
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A much-publicized countywide sales tax measure, which would raise approximately $30 billion over three decades for transit and highway projects by increasing the tax by one-half percent, was approved today by the Metro board of directors.
The tax would fund such projects as the Gold Line to Claremont, expansion of regional Metrolink train service, the Expo Line to Santa Monica, highway improvements, the Downtown Regional Connector and the Purple Line subway to the Westside, bringing momentum to the surge in ridership experienced across the county as gas prices soar.
Now’s our chance to stop complaining about the lack of mobility options in this city and actually do something about it. Excited yet?
There are still a number of potential road blocks (pun intended) before the sales tax measure becomes law. First, it must be approved by the state Legislature before going onto the November ballot — at which point the measure must pass with a two-thirds majority of votes in order to be enacted.
Steve Hymon over at the insanely helpful Bottleneck Blog attended the board meeting and reports that the measure passed 9-2, with one abstention.
Several board members objected to a perceived lack of equity in the distribution of funds (PDF file), with most of the unrest in the San Gabriel Valley area — despite a significant increase in bus services; expediting the Alameda Corridor East project, which will separate freight trains from intersections to improve traffic flow; and nearly $2 billion in freeway projects for that region alone.
Their objections also don’t take into account the nature of Los Angeles-area commuting patterns, where commuters are known to travel far distances for work. A subway extension on the Westside will invariably help commuters engaged in cross-town travel.
Even though Angelenos (including residents of the San Gabriel Valley) are paying higher prices on just about everything, we can’t afford for these infrastructure projects to be delayed any longer. This is an investment in our future that must be made; the political environment is such that the chances of the sales tax passing are now or never.
Though an increase in the sales tax may not be the best way to fund such projects, it’s the only politically palatable solution, and has the full support of angelenic. We urge our leaders in the Legislature to move the sales tax measure forward.
And we urge you, the voters, to think of the future Los Angeles — more pedestrian-, transit- and environmentally-friendly — when you head to the polls in November.
Let us know your thoughts on the sales tax measure!
-MTA votes to seek sales tax hike to fund L.A. County transit, roads (LA Times)
25 comments
i will be behind this if the 1/2 cent tax revenue actually goes to fund the projects we need.
i was discouraged to read that last week, when this went to the council, they removed language mandating that revenue only fund projects like subway to the sea, gold line extension, regional connector, etc. rather, metro has authority to use the funds at their discretion.
i’m very worried that we’ll vote this in, only for all the revenue to fund metro’s ongoing debts instead of new, sorely needed projects.
You are absolutely correct Craig, and that is why I won’t vote for it. Besides, didn’t we already pony up for the “subway to the sea” ages ago? What happened to all that money when the tunneling was halted?
$4 billion is allocated to the Purple line extension, and $xx money is allocated to the Expo Line, Crenshaw Corridor, 405 Sepulveda Pass (form of a mass transit line), Gold Line, Metrolink, $6 billion for bus improvements (bus rapid, bus only lanes), etc… Check out more concrete details here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2008/07/todays-meeting.html
Without the new tax, the only completed projects will be the Expo Line to Santa Monica and Crenshaw Corridor through 2025 with Prop A &C. Prop C is barred from spending any cash on tunneling (thanks Zev!). If you don’t support this tax, then how else do we get any more mass transit projects paid for?
I believe they changed the language so they can allocate to the downtown connector & Gold Line eastside/whittier extension, and Green Line extensions as appropriate.
I will only be behind this if they build a line to Glendale.
Seb, Glendale will benefit from this even if it’s not included in this round. It’s got Metrolink service, and commuters from Glendale to the Westside will benefit from the increased options.
If everyone had that mentality, we’d be getting nowhere - ever.
Seb that type of thinking is exactly why we don’t have a comprehensive transit network right now. This attitude of “what’s in it for me?” will prevent anything from happening. This proposal is for a REGIONAL transit network, which is what we need. Not every line is going to get built right away, but you have to start somewhere. This plan is the best thing to come from the MTA in some time and I will fully support it. I’m afraid if we don’t pass it this time, the opportunity many not present itself again anytime soon.
I’m good with this tax as long as its spent on improving/adding mass transit only. No need to spend money on freeways - unless they are going to put train tracts on them =).
^DTLA, that’s exactly what I’m afraid this 1/2 cent tax will go to - highway improvements, or raided for other pet projects that actually have NOTHING to do with transit.
^LAofAnaheim, the article you reference gives a list of projects, but it doesn’t address the fact that just last week, the council changed language that would guarantee these projects built. With the legislation as it is now, Metro can use the funds however they want. Judging how they’ve used them so far, I have no illusions they will spend on needed transit projects.
From Bob Vesco, commenter on Curbed LA:
Voter-approved sales tax increase used for transit and transportation improvements- read California Prop A and C funds. Both half-cent sales taxes are raided everytime there is a fiscal crisis. Transit and transportation projects are delayed or stopped because our state, local, and regional governments can’t manage their budgets. Why would we expect LA County to behave any differently this time?
California appoved Prop 1A back in 2004 to stop the theft of transportation and transit funds. Seems like the latest budget crisis gives the State carte blanche to once again go against the will of the people.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-arnold18-2008jul18,0,4658915.story
The issue is not about funding major game changing transit projects (I am for it). We just can’t trust our governement with the money to do it- at least until they show us results with the money they already have.
I should have put a JK at the end. I strongly support this. I want a huge transit system for L.A. and the subway to the sea I support 110%. It’s just my humor.
Craig, I’m not quite sure what you’re referring to with the City Council. This is, after all, a countywide proposal of which the LA City Council is only a small part. I’d like to read what you’re referring to though.
I’d say Metro’s done a pretty good job with the funds they have had over the past ten years or so. We’ve got two rail lines under construction at the moment (after finishing the Red, Blue, Gold, Green and Orange lines), and with the exception of a few bottlenecks and carpool lanes, we haven’t expanded the freeway system since the Century Freeway opened.
So what can we do to get our elected officials to actually follow the law and spend money we appoved for transit ON transit? We’re being robbed, folks.
I am all for the tax to get revenue to build transit and some highway projects, but want mostly transit projects, so we dont have to rely on cars and gas.
. Opens late 2009.
I personally am anxiously awaiting for the opening of the Metro Gold line Eastside Extension and my stop the Atlantic station. I live only 2.87 miles away. The estimated travel time into Union Station is 17 minutes
“You are absolutely correct Craig, and that is why I won’t vote for it. Besides, didn’t we already pony up for the “subway to the sea” ages ago? What happened to all that money when the tunneling was halted?”
The former sales tax paid for new interchanges, freeway widening, carpool lanes, expansion of the bus system, the green line, orange line, blue line, red line, gold line, and expo line. Its spent already.
Those projects were not free.
One half cent sales tax doesn’t pay for new lines forever. Not unless it was substantial enough the first time.
To be honest, we need a 1 cent tax, but they won’t pass, so we will pass 1/2 now, and 1/2 2 decades from now.
Rich,
Thanks for standing up for the 1/2 cent tax. Come on, guys, we won’t even feel this in our pocketbooks, but we’ll certainly witness the difference in our air, and in much easier commutes to the Westside and other destinations. Every great city has made an investment in their transportation infrastructure, let’s do the same; the next generation is depending on us.
You ask: didnt we pass a 1/2cent sales tax a while back for transit? The answer is yes we did and look where it got us… we have the basis for a world class transit system. Metro won the award in 2007 from APTA for “America’s best transit system” not because of what we have, but where we are going. We went from having absolutely no rail in 1990 to 74 miles of Metro Rail, plus it funds our booming metrolink system which also wasnt here in 1991— we now have 512 miles of Metrolink. We built 4 Metro rail lines, expanded bus service to include the highly successful rapid lines. In 18 years, that minute tax has HELPED fund 586 miles of rail, as well as many other factors.
Anyways, a 1/2cent sales tax is almost nothing. It is $0.005 Per $1.00. I am from Orlando, more specifically Seminole County, and we pass the same 1/2cent sales tax for the upkeep of our schools and what we have is one of the best districts in the nation. Our schools get completely remodeled roughly every 20 yrs, no portable classrooms, and everyone is happy. I have never gone to an old creaky school. The same can work here in Los Angeles with transit. $.005 is hardly a dent in the pocket. Corruption is everywhere, but it doesnt mean we can’t live quality life, we just have to make sure the people we put in office deliver on what we ask. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, that is what we can do
…by the way, I am the future mayor of Los Angeles… in about 15yrs!!!
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
Too many of us complain about the transit shortcomings of our city, so now it’s time we do something about it. We need to step up and do something, and a half-cent increase is an easy, almost painless way to do so. 2/3 is a mighty tall order though.
LA continues to be a 3rd rate city in terms of mass transit. The political bickering with the board of supervisors is beyond disgust. Can we get the angelenic readers to help vote out Antonovich especially? The sales tax measure is dead
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tax6-2008aug06,0,3404233.story
“Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder Dean Logan said the MTA must now pay up to $10 million for a special second ballot on election day or ask a court to force the measure onto the existing Nov. 4 ballot”
What a bunch of losers - one good thing that could have helped the masses and all future generations - they kill without even giving the people a chance to vote. What happened to democracy??
Gloria Molina used to be an exciting politician but like all aging politicians who’ve been in office too long, she’s jaded and has become irrelevant. It’s time to replace her. She’s the real blockage to the tax because you knew the Republicans would be against it.
If measures had been taken in the beginning to enforce payment for riding Metrorail, they would probably already have their money to expand the line(s) plus some! The money being lost by having an honor system would easily fund new projects. Rather than finding more ways to tax citizens, they should collect the money from people riding the trains (who are not paying) which will not only fund their projects, but provide additional safety in the stations.
Bettie: You think Metro has $5 billion worth of uncollected fare revenue?
Most people buy monthly, weekly or day passes… because you can’t get on a bus without paying the fare or showing your pass (unless you hop in the back door, but the drivers are usually good about catching that). Most trips on the system require a bus and rail transfer… so I’m just not following.
Rich,
I think you’re not following Bettie’s reasoning because it is so far out there that it’s off the page, off the screen and under the desk someplace. Imagine if having turnstiles from the start could have earned MTA $5 billion (Billion!) more in revenues? Wow, what a missed opportunity! (joke)
Anyway, about the vote…
I’m excited.
I’m ecstatic.
I’m hoping I’ll live long enough to ride to the sea!