ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR REGIONAL EQUITY BEFORE MTA'S VOTE ON 30/10 TRANSIT PLAN

 

 

 

       

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy Office:     (213) 974-5555  Cell: (213) 215-5176 E-mail:     tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

         April 20, 2010                                                                                   For Immediate Release

 

ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR REGIONAL EQUITY BEFORE MTA’S VOTE ON 30/10 TRANSIT PLAN

  

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Director Michael D. Antonovich issued the following statement prior to the MTA’s vote on Thursday, April 22, on the 30/10 transit plan:

 

“While 30/10 sounds great on paper, the plan is inherently flawed and neglects large regions of the County.

 

When Measure R passed last November, it promised voters a healthy mix of transit and road projects.  But 30/10 neglects to include any highway projects.  This circumvents the mobility promises made to the Gateway Cities, San Gabriel Valley, Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and the Glendale/Burbank subregion—which have most or all of their Measure R dollars allotted for highway projects.

 

According to a report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, 67% of the jobs, economic output and earnings generated by Measure R come from highway projects, which would create 341,500 jobs, $46.3 billion in economic output and $15.1 billion in earnings.  We cannot afford to leave the benefits of highways out of 30/10.

 

Additionally, 30/10 as it is currently written includes no firewalls or caps on the projects. 

If project cost estimates go up because of either poor project management or completed environmental review results, would 30/10 cannibalize itself by taking funds from one project to another or use new Federal, State or unclaimed local tax dollars to backfill project budgets?

 

Lastly, accelerating construction for 30/10 transit projects without identifying new revenue sources to operate is a recipe for disaster.  With transit operation funds from the State drying up and Federal assistance negligible, the 30/10 plan will require the MTA Board to de-fund bus operations, raise fares or propose a new local sales tax to fund the new rail commitments on an accelerated schedule. 

 

Prior to endorsing the 30/10 plan these issues must be vetted at the MTA, and I look forward to working with the Board of Directors to ensure that the plan is regional, balanced, equitable, and supported by the entire County.”

 

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