As many of you know, there have been discussions underway to extend the Measure R half-cent sales tax past its expiration date of July 1, 2039, to accelerate transit and highway projects that are funded in part by Measure R. Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa proposed [continue reading]
Below is the update from Metro’s government relations staff. This is the ninth extension of the previous multi-year federal transportation bill, which was signed into law by President Bush in 2005 and expired originally in 2009. The update: A few moments ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a 90-day [continue reading]
Earlier today, local officials also called on the House to vote on the bill, which contains elements of Metro’s America Fast Forward program to provide federal loans for large transit project. Here’s the update from Metro’s government relations staff: Over 80 Democrats are urging Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to bring [continue reading]
Metro officials joined labor and business leaders on Wednesday morning at a rally along the Orange Line Extension in Chatsworth to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a two-year transportation spending bill. Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa, Metro Directors Richard Katz and Mel Wilson [continue reading]
The Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Westside Subway Extension was released this afternoon (news release here, report here). Here are some other highlights about the project from the report: •As the map above and the chart below demonstrates, one big benefit of the Westside Subway Extension is that it [continue reading]
If anyone really needs a good argument why the Westside Subway Extension should be built, I think this map showing transit travel times to the Westwood/UCLA station from other parts of L.A. County makes a pretty compelling case. The nine-mile subway extension to Westwood would seriously improve the time [continue reading]
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 Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed. Senate OKs transportation bill with help for L.A. County (Los [continue reading]
This just in from Metro’s government relations staff — it’s a nice step forward for the America Fast Forward program: Moments ago, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly (74 to 22) to adopt its surface transportation bill (S. 1813), also known as MAP-21. The bill, championed by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer [continue reading]
Here’s the update from Metro’s government relations staff: Following a bi-partisan agreement by leaders last night, the U.S. Senate is considering a series of amendments today to its surface transportation bill, S.1813 (Moving Ahead For Progress in the 21st Century). The bill, which includes an innovative finance section titled America [continue reading]
Move L.A. is a transit advocacy group that made a big push for Measure R in 2008 and has continued to push for more transit — and more transit funding — in Los Angeles County. The group’s fourth annual transit discussion next Friday promises to be an interesting one with [continue reading]
