RIDLEY-THOMAS TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON TO SEEK ADDITIONAL RAIL FUNDING

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 15, 2009                                                                                                                                      Contact:    Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                                            James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

SUPERVISOR RIDLEY-THOMAS TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LOCAL RAIL LINE PROJECTS

 

Supervisor will meet with members of Congress, the Obama administration

and U.S. Department of Transportation officials

 

LOS ANGELES – Building on last week’s unanimous vote by the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build a light rail system along the Crenshaw to Los Angeles International Airport Corridor, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will be in Washington this week to seek additional federal funds for the project. 

 

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas championed the $1.7 billion project, which according to MTA staff projections will generate 7,800 jobs – twice as many as a proposed bus rapid transit alternative would have produced. 

 

The Supervisor, who left for Washington today after the Board of Supervisors meeting, will meet with members of Congress and Obama Administration transportation officials to discuss ways to close a $485 million budget gap in the project.

 

The MTA has conducted extensive outreach regarding the Crenshaw/LAX project, and through the process, the community has identified several concerns regarding public safety and economic impacts. 

 

On Oct. 22, the MTA Board of Directors approved a joint motion by Supervisors Ridley-Thomas and Mike Antonovich to pursue a variety of federal funds to close budget gaps on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor and Gold Line Foothill Extension.

 

 “We’re looking for the federal government to partner with the County of Los Angeles to close budget gaps identified with local transportation projects,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

 

The MTA Board of Directors also unanimously approved its Long-Range Transportation Plan, with an amendment by Supervisors Ridley-Thomas and Antonovich, intended to ensure that the long-range plan provides regional equity and an appropriate balance of projects and priorities.

 

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