ACTION ALERT – Metro Board to decide fate of I-710 South Project! 

  Leaders -- ACTION ALERT – Metro Board to decide fate of I-710 South Project! – One of our region’s most essential Goods Movement Corridors We need 50 Business Voices needed and present at Metro, Thursday 3/1 at 9 a.m. Next Thursday, the LA County Metro Board of Directors will decide on the next steps for the I-710 South Project. This project was one of a number of gridlock reducing and economy enhancing projects which prompted BizFed and its members to support Measure M to fund a comprehensive countywide mobility plan -- highway, transit, active transportation, clean technology, safety and increased access to transit networks.  Infrastructure improvements are essential to generate the sales tax receipts to fund our transportation plan. The timing right now is critical to tell Metro’s Board members that you support this crucial improvement program for LA County.  With misinformation presented on various blogs and media sources, the business community needs to be heard and seen prominently in support for the I-710 South Alternative 5C.  The Metro Board needs to hear loud and clear from the Business Community that we must stay the course and continue the I-710 South Project to the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), and select option 5C as its locally preferred alternative.  It is unacceptable to try to delay this project, as this will impact voter supported funds purposed for safely moving people and goods through this multi-modal transportation improvement project that benefits the region’s transportation network and our local economy!  Please join us to be show of force to let the Metro Board of Directors know that the Business Community is very supportive of this project. MEETING DETAILS WHAT: Metro Board of Directors meeting – Item #5, Support I-710 South Alternative 5C WHEN: Thursday, March 1st at 9:00 am, arrive by 8:30 to ensure a seat WHERE: One Gateway Plaza, (corner of Cesar Chavez and Vignes), Metro Board of Directors - Board Room.  Parking is available cost of $8 or you can take transit and ride the Metro Gold, Purple or Red lines to Union Station, follow overhead signage that leads to Metro Headquarters. RSVP: To ensure your seat and for future recognition, RSVP is required  CLICK HERE to let us know you're coming. BACKGROUND We urge you to remind Metro Board members key Business Community talking points that help led to BizFed support Measure M which include but are not limited to;

• Moving forward with the project provides accountability to taxpayers to ensure project delivery and generate sufficient sales tax revenues.
• I-710 South improvements also include partnership with the Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan, adopted in November 2017, to invest in cleaner heavy duty trucks for clean goods movement.
• I-710 South is a showcase project for our region and the nation of the importance in investing in cleaner heavy duty truck technology.
• Investments in newer, better paved, more efficient roadways have been proven to encourage investments in cleaner heavy-duty trucks.
• The Early Action projects also help to complete multi-modal improvementswhich also includes transit and active transportation within the I-710 South project corridor.
• I-710 Project is included in Board Chair Eric Garcetti's "28 by 28" plan already adopted by the Metro Board in January 2018 to accelerate key transportation investments by the 2028 Summer Olympics.
• I-710 South already leverages the private sector as we invest through other fees in our arterials, freeway bottlenecks and Goods Movement corridors that will help deliver projects more quickly and deliver more sales tax revenues to fund even more projects.
• The local sales tax dollars for Highway projects are already less than it was in Measure R -- at only 17% of the total measure -- and yet this is the fund to support goods movement projects like this one essential to generate the sales tax receipts to fund our transportation plan.

For any other questions or logistical information please contact Policy Manager Jerard Wright, jerard.wright@bizfed.org Thank You and I hope to see you next week!