Today I'm in Washington DC advocating for our 30/10 initiative to fast track the 12 transit projects in Measure R from a 30-year to a 10-year schedule. This morning I testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measure "Hearing on Infrastructure Banks" about the 30/10 concept. At lunchtime I spoke about 30/10 to the Center for National Policy.
Each time I come to Washington DC, I can feel the support for 30/10 growing as people realize that we're not looking for a handout. Instead we're bringing our own local funds to the table and just need the federal government to help us advance that funding to a ten year schedule.
During the hearing, Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Peter DeFazio, and Governor Edward Rendell were very supportive of 30/10 in their testimony. I would like to thank Chairman Richard Neal and Representative Earl Blumenauer for inviting me to participate in this significant discussion.
The hearing focused on proposals for a national infrastructure bank or national infrastructure fund, either of which would help jumpstart construction in Los Angeles and other regions. For 30/10 we are developing ideas including a more aggressive federal program of interest rate subsidies, loan guarantees, direct loans, and/or innovative re-payment terms.
I am grateful for the opportunity to talk directly with so many members of Congress and am feeling very encouraged by what I heard today.
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The problem is excessive density and that problem is not solved by trying to build rapid mass transit. The function of mass transit is to falsely justify increasing density by telling people that cars are unnecessary; all you need is a bus or a subway. Travel time by car from Long Beach to Pomona, one hour. Travel time by bus from Long Beach to Pomona, 5 hours.
You cannot get there from here. That is the story for most of LA if you tried to use the subway. How long does it take to go from Los Feliz to downtown by car, 15 minutes. How long by the subway. You can't because there is no place to park near the Hollywood Metro station at Hollywood and Western. Thus, you first have to walk 30 or more minutes to get to the subway. The walk home is much longer as it is all uphill.
Rapid mass transit is nothing but a scam to put billions of dollars into developers' pockets. One reason the City is on the decline is the decades long corruption between City Hall and the developers
Only the corrupt politicos, developer buddies and a few left wing ideologues think that rapid mass transit is possible. Let's look at some facts:
New York City has 305 sq. mi
Chicago has 228 sq. mi
Washington DC has 68.3 sq mi
San Francisco 46.7 sq mi
LA County has 4,752 sq mi any mass transit has to be county wide as many of the cities which Angelenos frequent on a daily basis are outside the City, e.g. West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Long Beach. To use only the area of the LA City (498 sq mi) would be like pretending that Manhattan (22.7 sq. mi) is the totality of NYC.
Orange County has 2,000 sq mi To be functional any mass transit system needs to also cover Orange County as trips to The OC are common.
NYC has 6.4% the area of LA and Washington, D.C. has 1.4% the area of LA.
Anyone who thinks that rapid mass transit is feasible over an area than ranges from 4,752 sq mi to 6,752 sq mi is not thinking clearly -- which is why politicos who live in Washington DC think that rapid mass transit is feasible in LA.