Please join us on TOMORROW, June 23, at the Metro Board meeting to express your SUPPORT for the Plan to Ease Traffic contingent on several items. BizFed is asking that CSUN related Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects begin in the first decade, funding is increased for senior and disabled related transportation, and the Purple Line extension for a dedicated transit stop in the Arts District.
WHAT: Metro Board Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 9 a.m.
WHERE: Metro, One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor, Board Room, Los Angeles, CA, 90012
Can you please join us TOMORROW to make your voice heard at the Metro Board Meeting?
Here are talking points for TOMORROW's Metro Board of Directors Hearing:
We would like to commend Metro on addressing several areas of concern to the business community in their Plan to Ease Traffic. Strengthening the economic fabric of the Los Angeles region is a vital ingredient that is married to transportation. The several areas we want to commend Metro for addressing are:
- Focusing local return and expanding funding. Under Metro’s proposed measure, Local Return funds would grow from $6B under Measure R to $19.2B, which can also be leveraged with Proposition A and C funds to meet local needs. BizFed supports using Local Return funds to fulfill the vision of plans such as Los Angeles’ Mobility Plan 2035.
- Addressing freeways, paving the way for clean goods movement. BizFed commends Metro for increasing investment in freeways by 162%, addressing some of the worst bottlenecks in the nation, such as the 101/110 connector, the I605/I110 and SR60/I605, and the I210 E of Pasadena, which negatively affect our economy and our air quality.
- Prioritizing connectivity to major economic and transportation hubs. Metro's focus on connectivity to Los Angeles International Airport is a big step in facilitating economic growth in LA County. Providing elevated mobility to residents and visitors will create a surge in our local economy that will benefit all.
- BizFed supports Metro’s goal to reduce truck daily hours of delay by 15%. We also supports CEO Phil Washington’s creation of a Metro Freight Division. We urged Metro to expand the goods movement network in LA County, creating freight-only lanes and incentivizing clean freight technologies without imposing new freight tolls or container fees at the local level, but rather as part of a national freight fee policy, so as not to put our freight system at a competitive disadvantage.
BizFed supports Metro's Plan to Ease Traffic contingent on several items being addressed. These items are as follows:
- Prioritize and gaurantee funding for BRT connectivity to CSUN. We are requesting that the Los Angeles County Transportation Expenditure Plan Attachment A be amended to include a significant and permanent solution, specifically serving CSUN, that will be adequately funded in the first ten years.
- Next, transportation related to seniors and disabled needs special focus. We recommend this category be increased to 4%. The proposed 2% enhancement in funding for transit services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and low income is inadequate and will not keep pace with the projected population growth in these communities.
- The Purple Line tracks should be extended to include a station serving the growing Arts District and transit connections to the LA River.. Extend the Red/Purple Line Revenue service tracks to accommodate a station to serve the Arts District near the Sixth Street Viaduct, to expand access by transit and active transportation.
Please let us know if you'll join us and have your voice heard TOMORROW at this important hearing!
If you cannot attend the Metro Board Meeting tomorrow, please send a letter to the Board members. Here is their contact info:
Contact Dustan Batton at Dustan.Batton@BizFed.org if you plan on attending.
