USDOT announces local hire initiative!
This is good news for Metro, which had lobbied for a change in the law. The issue: up-to-now, Metro was prohibited from hiring workers based on where they lived on [continue reading]
148 Chambers of Commerce back America Fast Forward
I know this stuff is Extremely Wonky, so let’s start with this Bottom Line: America Fast Forward is a good way to reduce the cost of building big transit projects [continue reading]
Draft environmental document released for Eastside Gold Line phase 2 project
Metro released the draft environmental study today for a project that could potentially extend the Gold Line from East Los Angeles to South El Monte or Whittier. In addition, the study also looks at a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternative which identifies potential bus upgrades and the legally required no-build option. Click [continue reading]
U.S. Conference of Mayors backs America Fast Forward
The U.S. Conference of Mayors last week voted to back a resolution by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti that “urges Congress to create a new category of qualified tax credit bonds to fund $45 billion over 10 years for transportation to stimulate infrastructure investment.” Not exactly earth-shaking news. But it’s good [continue reading]
Transportation headlines, Thursday, April 24
Have a transportation-related article you think should be included in headlines? Drop me an email! And don’t forget, Metro is on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Pick your social media poison! Freeway toll lanes seem to speed things along, somewhat (L.A. Times) Here’s the top of the story, which provides a good summary of the preliminary [continue reading]
Graphic: New Starts funding for Metro over the years — and finally on the rise again!
The above graphic is certainly worth a look. It shows the amount of federal New Starts money received by Metro on an annual basis since 1993. New Starts is a federal program that helps local transit agencies pay for big, expensive projects and most of the money shown above went [continue reading]
Both parts of America Fast Forward initiative are in President Obama's proposal for four-year transportation bill!
Earlier today in Minnesota, President Obama announced his proposal for a four-year transportation spending bill that would include both parts of Metro’s America Fast Forward initiative. If Congress was to vote the bill into law — and that’s a big ‘if’ — that could be a boon to Metro and [continue reading]
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti: The urban transit revolution depends on federal dollars
The following op-ed was written by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who also serves as the Vice chair of the Metro Board of Directors: The Urban Transit Revolution Depends on Federal Dollars By: Eric Garcetti Too often, the story of Los Angeles is written by pundits who are focused on [continue reading]
Metro Board meeting preview: several items — including project acceleration — could determine how billions of dollars are spent
June Board meeting agenda The Metro Board of Directors meeting on Thursday should be both interesting and longer than a cold winter’s night with a broken furnace and no firewood, matches or a blanket. The Board has a lot on its collective plate, including several items that taken together will [continue reading]
Los Angeles Transportation Headlines, Monday, June 24
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Transportation Headlines online newspaper, which you can also access via email subscription (visit the newspaper site) or RSS feed. L.A. County cities fight over Metro plans for new [continue reading]