Metro’s Draft Plan Was Presented To Palmdale Residents That Outlines $120 Billion Dollar in Transit
Palmdale residents were part of one Metro's 10 community meetings that are being held through LA County.
The community meeting was presented to the public at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center to gather information for a potential $120 billion dollar ballot measure.The measure would increase the countywide sales tax by a half-cent for 40 year. But Metro Board of Directors has the final say on the spending plan and is scheduled to decide in June whether to put a ballot measure before the voters, for the November 2016 elections.
The foundation of the plan includes a host of transportation improvement projects submitted by stakeholders across the county. Metro staff has been at work over the last few months evaluating those projects against key performance metrics for how well the projects will ease congestion and enhance mobility, provide better access, improve safety, grow the economy and enhance quality of life
The plan is based on public input and outlines $120 billion in transit and highway projects and a host of other improvements: nearly 40 major projects in 40 years, all across the county. In addition to new transit and highway projects, the draft plan includes commuter rail; transit operations and projects to keep buses, trains and facilities in good repair; pedestrian and cycling connections and funding to support affordable fares for students, seniors and the disabled. It would also return revenues to local cities on a per capita basis - money those cities could then spend on their own local transportation improvements.
The public is invited to attend one of 10 community meetings April 5, 2016 through April 30, 2016 and share their thoughts and contribute to L.A. County’s future transportation plan. There are many ways the public can participate and provide input through a variety of ways, including public meetings, telephone town hall meetings or online plan@metro.net
The schedule for the upcoming meetings follows
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 (6-8 p.m.) Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center, 29900 Ladyface Circle, Agoura Hills
Thursday, April 7, 2016 (6-8p .m.) Grace T. Black Auditorium, 3130 Tyler Avenue, El Monte
Monday, April 11, 2016 (6-8 p.m.) Marvin Braude Constitution Service Center, 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard, Los Angeles
Thursday, April 14, 2016 (6-8 p.m.) Carson Community Center, Room C, 801 East Carson Street, Carson
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (6-8 p.m.) Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, 38350 Sierra Highway, Palmdale
Thursday, April 21, 2016 (6-8 p.m.) Plummer Park Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
Saturday, April 23, 2016 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.) Metro Headquarters, Board Room, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 (6-8 p.m.) Gateway Cities Council of Governments, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 16401 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount
Thursday, April 28 2016, (6-8 p.m.) Rita Walters Learning Complex Auditorium, 915 West Manchester Avenue, Los Angeles
Saturday, April 30, 2016 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.) Virtual/Online Community Meeting. To attend, the public can log in at metro.net/theplan.
The potential ballot measure under consideration would ask voters to increase the countywide sales tax by a half cent for 40 years and to continue the existing Measure R tax for an additional 18 years, both of which would run through 2057.
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Here are the draft expenditures ranked by allocation amount:
35 percent – Transit Construction – includes rail, bus rapid transit (BRT), Union Station, some Metrolink projects
20 percent – Transit Operations – includes Metro bus and Municipal bus operations
17 percent – Highway Construction – includes freeways, toll lanes, and some port and goods movement projects
16 percent – Local Return – per capita funding to municipalities for transportation projects
5 percent – Rail Operations
2 percent – ADA Paratransit service for disabled, seniors, students
2 percent – Metro State of Good Repair and Safety Improvements
1 percent – Regional Rail – Metrolink projects
2 percent – Regional Active Transportation projects
Press Release/information Provided through www.metro.net
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