Measure R

This Thursday, the Metro Board of Directors will debate and vote-on whether or not to formally support Mayor Villaraigosa's "30 in 10" program that would use federal loans to move the twelve largest transit projects contained in the 30 year Measure R sale tax program in the next decade.  "30 in 10" has proven wildly popular with transit riders and is being touted as a national model for transit agencies, yet all of the advance debate on the program from the Board can be summarized as "how can we make sure to build more wasteful and expensive highway projects quicker?" You can read the full agenda for this Thursday's meeting, here.

As someone who has been pushing hard for a "bicycling and pedestrian set aside" for Measure R funds from before it was called Measure R, I have mixed feelings about yesterday's City Council Joint Hearing with the Transportation and Budget & Finance Committees.

President Obama did triple duty last night for the re-election campaign of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), visiting three fundraisers to send a stark message about polls that show the environment committee chairman holding a single-digit lead against her GOP challengers despite a formidable cash advantage.

By now, you may have received word from the Bicycle Coalition that the City Council's Budget and Finance, Public Works, and Transportation Committees are meeting in a joint meeting today to discuss, amongst other things, how the city will spend it's Measure R Local Return dollars.  Yes, the long fought for 10% set-aside for bicycling and pedestrian projects remains in the city's official recommendations, and the bike coalition has already put together a good list of talking points for anyone who's going to head downtown at 1:00 P.M. today.

This week's Transportation Committee hearing doesn't have all of the agenda items that we hoped to see, but does have an interesting one concerning use of Measure R funds to widen a road in the San Fernando Valley.  Along with a report on the Wilshire Bus-Only program and one directing LADOT and City Planning to move on Bike Corrals, this item is a highlight on an unusually small committee agenda.

Last week, Streetsblog dared ask the question to our city and Metro leadership, "Is Metro ready for '30 in 10?'"  The answer was a surprising, "maybe not, but the agency is working on making the changes it needs to make."  I have to be honest.  I expected a "yes."

(This is a two-part series.  Part II tomorrow Monday.- DN)

Days after pitching the Senate environment committee for federal help with expediting his ambitious "30/10" package of new transit projects, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was back on the Hill yesterday meeting with lawmakers as part of a broad campaign for more investment in California infrastructure.

In a sure sign that the "30 in 10" plan to accelerate all Measure R transit projects to be completed within a decade, national media is picking up the story and praising Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for providing a new model of federal stimulus for America.