(pdf for download and printing is here)
Guidelines for the management and spending of Measure M dollars were released to the public for review Thursday by the Metro Board of Directors. The public comment period runs through May 26. The goal is to have the Board adopt the guidelines at their June meeting with the Measure M half-cent sales tax increase going into effect in L.A. County on July 1.
The guidelines — as the name implies — govern how Measure M tax revenues will be overseen, managed and spent on different projects and programs included in the ballot measure. That includes everything from how local return funds can be used to how Measure M is audited to how funds are spent on transit and highway projects. And more.
In short: this is important stuff and I encourage everyone interested in Measure M to at least give the document a look.
If you’re late to the party, Measure M was approved by 71.15 percent of Los Angeles County voters in November. The ballot measure includes a new half-cent sales tax and makes permanent the Measure R sales tax. Measure M is projected to raise $120 billion in its first 40 years. Here is the Measure M page on metro.net and here is a list of projects and programs it will fund.
You can comment on the Measure M guidelines by emailing theplan@metro.net.
Categories: Policy & Funding, Projects
My Measure M Wish List
• Dramatically increase frequency of Metrolink service and study construction or purchase of new track to avoid freight train congestion and other scheduling conflicts affecting the Pacific surf line.
• Extending the GREEN line to the busy Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Metrolink Station.
• Study extension of Metrolink Perris valley service from current terminus to Hemet/San Jacinto along existing abandoned right of way.
• Study of Metrolink or other passenger rail service between Union Station and LAX along the harbor subdivision.
• Blue/Expo improvements including study of additional grade separation and traffic signal preemption in problem areas (Especially Flower Junction & Long Beach Blvd) as well as study feasability of adding a third track for express service during peak hours, as outlined by board member Dr. Robert Garcia’s recent motion to study exactly that.
• Orange Line conversion back to light rail.
• Construct new light rail line along the former Pacific Electric right of way to Santa Ana, and accelerate the construction of the northern portion of same along Salt Lake Ave.
• Study new Metrolink route to Huntington Beach in addition to other sorely needed rail connections to Orange County.
• Study capital costs for construction of new Metrolink route between Santa Clarita & Ventura using abandoned Southern Pacific right of way.
• Extension of the Green line to Torrance, Lomita, Wilmington, Long Beach.
[…] parts of the county on a per capita basis for their local transportation projects. As part of developing guidelines for how Measure M funds are managed and spent, Metro is exploring setting a ‘floor’ for smaller […]
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