Now's the Time for Our Long Range Transportation Plan

If you want to let the MTA board know it's time to pass the Long Range Plan you can
email the board here.

Tomorrow is a big day for Los Angeles. Tomorrow, we can clear the way for jobs and sustainable growth, and set our region on a course to getting the transportation network it deserves.

At their meeting tomorrow, the Board of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) can and should pass the Long Range Transportation Plan, paving the way for $300 billion in investment over the next 30 years. We can't afford to delay any longer.

So many good projects are included in this plan -- the Regional Connector, the Foothill Extension of the Gold Line in the San Gabriel Valley, the Crenshaw Line, and the Westside Extension of the Subway. Can you just imagine what these projects will do for the Los Angeles area?

Our region has some of the worst air pollution in the country. This plan would mean lower emissions. Our region has too much traffic. This plan would mean less congestion. And most importantly, our region has a 12% unemployment rate. This plan would mean JOBS.

This plan has been a long time coming. We've been delayed for years because even though we had a lot of good projects, we didn't have the money to build them. But last year, thanks to the voters, we passed Measure R and now have the half-cent sales tax for transportation.

Just last month, the Board unanimously voted for two projects to be our federal funding priorities -- the Westside Subway and the downtown Regional Connector. Both of these run through extremely populated employment centers and will make rail travel faster, more feasible, and greener for hundreds of thousands of people from all over the region.

Now is the time to unite around this Plan. Let's show Washington that Los Angeles is ready to break ground and is deserving of federal funding to get all our Measure R projects built faster.

Let the board know you're on board with the Long Range Plan by emailing them here.

 

 

Follow Antonio Villaraigosa on Twitter: www.twitter.com/villaraigosa

Comments

[AndSoItGoes]

Congrats ... Love to see vision and action .... provided there IS a good plan and it isn't just another way to get money without a specific designation for the intended project.

[Awake-and-Sing]

Metro just passed the Long Range Transportation Plan.

Congratulations, Mr. Mayor and to all of Los Angles City and County.

Now lets get our share of Federal Funding so that we can build not just the funded, but the not yet funded portions of the LRTP built.

[rich3324]

This is America, we never have a long range plan.

[Ben Dixon]

Sadly its funny becuase its true.

[Awake-and-Sing]

I enthusiastically support this Long Range Transportation Plan. I hope federal funds can be found so that some of the unfunded projects may be built as well.

Let's do this!

The glory days of the Los Angeles car culture are long behind us. We can no longer economically or environmentally engage in social engineering for automobiles. The days of expecting everyone to drive and park a single-occupancy vehicle cheaply and conveniently, anytime, anyplace, anywhere are behind us.

It's time for Los Angeles to become a world class city with a world class transportation system.

It's just tragic that our former comprehensive rail system was dismantled thanks to auto/oil industry lobbying rather than improved upon for the future.

It's time for this phoenix to rise from the ashes.

[ramonchu]

Oh, gosh, I sure would like to support this plan, but it just doesn't talk enough about BICYCLES. The one major city in the country where you can ride a bike 11 1/2 months out of the year is still lagging behind all other cities in the country where you can't--in terms of a serious commitment to the bicycle as a viable form of personal transportation. You want to talk green? Let's talk zero emissions, minuscule foot prints, negligible construction impacts, local lifestyles and a more human scaled city. You want to talk green economy? Let's talk shrinking health care costs, people powered energy solutions, a fast growing entrepreneurial sector and appropriate technologies. New York, San Francisco, Chicago, they all get it, and now, Mr. Mayor, it's time for your city, under your leadership, to get with it. Bicycles are key to any long range transportation plan that hopes to be truly successful. But don't worry; they say "it's like riding a bike" for a reason.

[dgoshilla]

Right on the money. We should have a better bike plan for the city. Its embarrassing to see how few bike lanes we have and the latest bike proposal is a joke.

[MicheleC]

I searched for the word "bicycle" in the mayor's post and didn't find it until your comment. What does that tell ya? And the latest "bike plan" for LA goes backwards.

[SunnyJohn]

And to think: it's only been about 50 years since highway advocates destroyed what was left of one of the best rail transit systems in the world. Way to go LA!

[oafishcad]

And only 36 years since we voted to build a subway.

[mfinbh]

I have been watching and marveling at the progress of the new purple line (east-west light rail, partly elevated). I drive down LaCienega Blvd. from Beverly Hills to the airport area twice a week, and this evening, for the first time, I drove under the bridge at LaCienega for the first time. It must have just been finished last night.

I can't begin to express how thrilled I am that the purple line is now visibly nearing completion, and will provide the first complete line from downtown to the beach. Well done.

Now, onward to the most important one of all: finishing the Red LineSubway! We can do it, we need it urgently, and it must be the top priority for the city - not only because we have been waiting twelve years since the first phase of the subway was completed, but because now more than ever the employment that will be generated by the project is so desperately needed. This is a win-win. so let's keep up the momentum and get it all in action. Bravo.

[alossix]

You're referring to the Expo Line. The Purple Line is what you're referring to as the Red Line subway extension. The subway was renamed the Red Line (North Hollywood to Downtown) and the Purple Line (Downtown to Wilshire/Western). The Purple Line is what we're hoping to get for federal funding. But I agree with you - it's exciting to see the progress on the Expo Line!

[mfinbh]

Thanks for the correction.
Now shouldn't the Expo line have it's own color code?

[pagebike]

Mayor Villaraigosa is the right man, at the right time, in the right place.

[Callyson]

Mr Mayor, I just sent in that e-mail...hope it helps. Thanks for calling attention to this.

[Hank007]

A national mass transit agenda would create thousands of jobs, provide safer, cleaner more efficient transportation within and in between cities/states, dramatically cut our dependence on foreign oil, be a huge economic stimulus. It's so obvious, it becomes equally obvious why it hasn't happened yet.

[oafishcad]

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

[Vic in Chicago]

Mr. Mayor..

You are absolutely right! Go for it!