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Riders have Plan for Funding Subway to the Sea |
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LA Transpo
Edited by Sara Epstein
LA’s transit riders are proposing a different subway route … both to the sea and to pay for getting there.
The Southern California Rail Riders Union, representing Los Angeles transit riders and advocates, has called on the Metro Board of Directors to double its proposed investment in subway and light rail construction by submitting to voters a full-cent sales tax in November, unless more funding is dedicated to subway and light rail construction.
This Thursday, Metro's Board of Directors will consider placing a half-cent sales tax on the November 4, 2008 ballot. The sales tax proposal would generate $30 billion over 30 years, costing the average taxpayer 7 cents a day, or $25 a year. However, under one version of the plan, as little as 30% goes to rail construction, which would not even fund a complete Subway to the Sea.
"When population and the cost of commuting rising exponentially, we need more than incremental investment in mass transit.," said RRU President Scott Olin Schmidt. "When the Subway to the Sea that ends somewhere near the 405, it is clear that Metro's current proposal does not go far enough."
By doubling the investment in transportation infrastructure, and committing all of the extra funding to subway and light rail projects, Metro could take a major step towards making rail transit a viable alternative for commuters in Los Angeles.
The extra $30 billion raised by doubling the sales tax proposal could fully fund a dual line Subway to the Sea which connects the San Fernando Valley to Santa Monica through West Hollywood, extend the Red Line subway to Burbank Airport, the Green Line light rail to LAX, the Gold Line to LA Ontario Airport and more.
"With gas prices approaching five dollars a gallon, the time is now for bold action. Commuters will be willing to spend less than the cost of a tank of gas a year if you show them a network of rail transit that provides a viable alternative to sitting in traffic," Schmidt continued. "In his inauguration speech, Mayor Villaraigosa asked us to 'dream with' him. Today, we ask Mayor Villaraigosa and the Metro Board to 'dream with us,' and offer Los Angeles a future where we can get out of our cars and onto the rails." ◘
CityWatch
Vol 6 Issue 51
Pub: June 24, 2008
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