Annual BizFed survey suggests that traffic congestion and transit problems could negatively affect future job growth; local business and policy groups working on solutions
LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles’ infamous transportation problems are not only major annoyances, they may also be detrimental to regional job growth, according to findings of a new Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) survey.
Employers named transportation as one of their top business concerns, second only to taxes and fees. Among 22 categories examined, transportation maintained its four-year upward trajectory on the list of top concerns, moving to the number two spot in 2016 from the number four spot in 2015. In 2013, transportation ranked as the number ten concern of employers.
“Employers are feeling the effects when their employees, customers and contractors spend four or more hours a day on the road,” said Tracy Hernandez, Founding CEO, BizFed. “Congestion and long commutes are resulting in major disruptions in productivity, goods movement, and recruiting and retaining employees.”
The annual BizFed poll represents a snapshot of key issues of concern in the Los Angeles County business community, based on surveys of business owners and executives regarding the issues they deem most critical to the ongoing operation and growth of their business.
The 2016 results suggest that transportation problems are also poised to significantly affect future job growth. Forty-four percent of employers ranked “traffic congestion” as a main reason that businesses and jobs are leaving Los Angeles County/California. Respondents also believe transportation infrastructure in Los Angeles is a serious impediment to business growth and job creation.
Across almost all categories, more employers identified transportation-related public infrastructure as needing “immediate attention” than in the previous year: roads and streets (57% in 2016, compared to 52% in 2015), highways and freeways (51% versus 48%), sidewalks and bike paths (29% versus 25%), and rail (27% versus 25%). 32 percent of employers also named ports and airports as an immediate need, the same as in 2015.
“This is the right time to be having this conversation because finding solutions to our gridlock is so high on agenda for local business and policymakers,” said Hilary Norton, Executive Director, FAST – Fixing Angelenos Stuck in Traffic, and co-chair of BizFed’s Transportation Committee. “We are heartened by the work that we are doing with organizations like the Southern California Association of Governments and Metro to plan for a better future, with reduced travel time, more efficient freight corridors, and higher quality roads and arterials.”
BizFed leadership and member associations will be using the important insights from this year’s survey to advance a policy agenda that encourages a more supportive environment for local businesses, including transportation infrastructure improvements. BizFed’s PET Working Group (previously MR2 Working Group), chaired by Norton, continues to hold periodic meetings with Metro senior staff to both understand their approach to developing the measure details and also to help shape the outcome into a measure the organization can support and that can win.
About the BizFed Survey
The 2016 BizFed survey was conducted between March 1 and April 12, 2016; this year’s results from 643 total responses reflect 100 percent BizFed association participation. Online surveys are distributed throughout BizFed membership and, by extension, their member networks. Respondents represent a cross-section of BizFed members and reflect a balanced representation of LA County businesses based on employment size, industry, and location. Survey developed by Employers Group’s Research Department, the BizFed Polling/Research Committee, and the BizFed Board of Directors. Employers Group is a California-based association of employers.
