A message from Metro CEO Art Leahy

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Metro Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy sent this email to Metro stakeholders on Friday:

Dear Metro Stakeholder,

Measure J, the proposed 30-year extension of the Measure R half-cent transportation sales tax in L.A. County to accelerate transportation projects, fell just short of the required two-thirds majority needed to pass on election night. It did, however, receive an overwhelming 64.7% of the vote. We are encouraged by this expression of confidence as it indicates a clear public mandate for the rapid growth of regional transit and highway projects, extending local transportation funds to cities, and continued transit operational improvements to serve our region's mobility needs.

Moving forward, Metro remains focused on our core mission — continued improvement of our bus, rail and highway systems, while also delivering twenty-seven new transit and highway projects over the next 25 years as approved by voters when they passed Measure R in 2008. Just this year we opened the Canoga extension of the Metro Orange Line and the first phase of the Expo Line to Culver City. Currently, construction is underway for the Expo Line Phase 2 and the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Shortly, we will begin construction of the Crenshaw/LAX corridor, the Regional Connector and the Westside Subway Extension. Among the highway projects, the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project is advancing toward completion. Additional highway improvements across Los Angeles County are progressing, including pursuit of a High Desert Corridor project and widening and capacity enhancements to Interstate 5.

We have a lot to look forward to as our County undertakes one of the biggest transportation infrastructure programs in the nation. Thank you for your continued partnership, support and commitment as we work together to improve mobility and the quality of life for the Los Angeles region.

Best wishes on this Veterans Day weekend as we celebrate the men and women who have served our country.

Arthur T. Leahy

Chief Executive Officer

Categories: Transportation News

5 replies ›

  1. The express lanes project is seriously flawed and in need of common sense reforms. The fastrak programs around the state should be consistent (same type of transponder statewide, fastrak should be able to be used for tolls statewide, carpoolers and motorcycles shouldn’t need a transponder to use HOV lanes, and there should be no monthly fees for occassional users).

  2. Hmm.

    Shortly before the election (I think it was when I was in Los Angeles for Endeavour’s “long crawl” to Exposition Park, I saw a stack of cheaply-produced anti-J flyers stuffed into a timetable/brochure pocket on at least one MetroRail car. I didn’t actually pick up any (being an Orange County resident, J isn’t in my jurisdiction, so I neither had any say in it, nor much knowledge of it), but the argument seemed to claim a “bus rider” point of view, and to be a tirade against “gentrification.” I’d hazard a guess that it held about as much water as the Tea Party’s claims to be a populist movement, namely none whatsoever. But it, and whoever was behind it, may have been what made the difference.

  3. I am an l.a metro operator that has recently joined the team. It is exciting to know that we are making impact on the future of county development. Kudos on our people taking the initiative to improve the quality of the transportation needs fot the community

  5. All other propositions on;y needed 50.1% to pass why does this need a super majority? For me 64% is good enough to pass! Somewhere Beverly Hills City Council Members are laughing!