Westside Cities, Elected Officials and Residents Unite For Mass Transit!!

klamedia · June 13th, 2006, 06:52 AM

I think I've slipped and bumped my head........

By Kevin Herrera
Daily Press Staff Writer

WEST HOLLYWOOD — Drivers frustrated with severe traffic congestion may have something to smile about as leaders from the Westside gathered here Friday to pledge their support for extending a light rail line from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica.

The Exposition Light Rail Line is expected to significantly ease congested roads and highways by drawing an estimated 72,000 riders per day, said Roger Snoble, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Elected officials from Culver City, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, as well as the City and County of Los Angeles agreed to "speak with one voice" as they joined forces with Santa Monica to compete as a region for more transportation funding, including the estimated $750 million needed to extend the Expo rail line to the ocean.

"The Westside, including Santa Monica, is Los Angeles' economic engine," said Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown. "We need, and deserve, mass transit, and with all of us speaking together, I believe we can make that happen."

The commitment by local leaders to transportation projects with the greatest regional impact — instead of smaller, localized projects — comes on the heels of state lawmakers approving a $20 billion transportation bond on Thursday night to fund much-needed freeway improvements, street repairs and public transit. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff has given all indications that he will place the bond measure before voters on Nov. 7, along with a series of related infrastructure bonds for a grand total of $37 billion — the largest bond package in California history.

Officials here hope to halt what they feel have been decades of neglect, and collect some of that money for the Expo Line, the possible extension of the region's subway system and the reconfiguration of the 1-10 interchange at Robertson and Venice boulevards. The overwhelming consensus is that the Expo extension should be top priority.

"With the Legislature's move last night, we have a great opportunity ahead of us to make a tremendous impact on the Westside, an area that has been ignored for years when it comes to funding for mass transit," County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents Santa Monica, said Friday during the second Westside Transportation Symposium, held at the Pacific Design Center.

"The Expo line must be viewed as a rail line to Santa Monica and nothing less," Yaroslavsky said as he spoke before a crowd of nearly 150 city planners, councilmembers and public transit advocates. "I want to see us rally together and get the money needed to keep this project moving forward. I do not want to see construction stopped at Culver City. I want a seamless transition (to Santa Monica)."

Phase 1 of the Expo line, which will run from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City, is already underway, with construction scheduled to begin this summer at a cost of $650 million.

Snoble of the MTA told local leaders during the symposium that the Expo line, if extended to Santa Monica, would be the MTA's most traveled line, serving the Santa Monica-Wilshire corridor — one of the top 10 employment centers in the region with 427,191 jobs.

However, if the line is not extended, Snoble conceded it would not be as desirable to riders, many of whom need quick and easy transportation to Westwood, Venice and Santa Monica.

"Expo really needs to get to Santa Monica before we can expect to see riders using it in abundance," Snoble said.

But with the state sending approximately $200 million more in gas taxes to the federal government than it receives in funding, "it's going to take not just elected officials, but the business community, environmentalists, residents — all of them singing the same song so that we can't be ignored," Snoble said.

NEGLECTED NEED

Those who attended the symposium said there are a host of reasons why the Westside has continually been left out in the cold while other areas, such as San Bernardino, have seen an abundance of transportation funding.

One of the reasons is the political leanings of the Westside, which is predominantly Democrat. With Republicans dictating spending priorities at the federal level, areas like Santa Monica and West Los Angeles are forgotten or dismissed, leaders here said.

"I've told leaders in Congress time and time again, both publicly and privately, that we have to start funding where the needs are, not where it's politically favorable," Yaroslavsky said.

Bill Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, the leading advocacy group for cities and suppliers for public transit, said the competition at the federal level is only going to increase as more cities begin to explore mass transit.

THE COSTS OF SNOBBERY

Some believe the lack of transportation funding stems from the area's affluence. There is a belief, some say, that wealthy Westside residents don't have a need for cheap, public transportation, or would never leave the comforts of their Hummers and BMWs to sit on a bus with someone who is homeless.
"There's been that sort of stereotype out there, that we don't deserve public transit, but the reality is we are home to a significant number of jobs, and those employees need a better way to get to work than to waste time sitting in traffic," said Kathy Dodson, president of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, which has joined with other chambers to advocate for the Expo expansion and other projects. "It really is political, but with new leadership I think we are opening new doors and we will soon begin to see those results."

GET OUT THE VOTE

While the bonds would be placed on the ballot in November, there still would stand the task of getting people to approve them. Officials in Santa Monica said they will go to great lengths to educate residents about the need for these bonds.

The Westside Cities Council of Governments, comprised of several cities in West Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, also intends to engage in an education effort to help drum up support for the unprecedented level of state spending.

"When you develop grassroots support for something, it makes it easier for elected officials to lead and to get things done," said Darrell Clarke, a Santa Monica planning commissioner and co-chair of Friends 4 Expo, a group in support of the Expo extension. "What we have here now are all elected officials expressing their commitment to Expo and other projects that serve a regional need. We didn't have that four years ago."

Aren't these the same fuckers who are the very reason we don't have a comprehensive rapid transit system today!!!!

At least now they are behind transit but NEGLECTED?????
"Sportsfan" please help me out here! Even Zev is up there talking! Overturn the fucking subway ban bitch!!!

solongfullerton · June 13th, 2006, 07:32 AM

thats what i was thinking. wasnt zev holding back the subway to the westside 10 years ago? now hes jumping on the bandwagon?!?!!??!!? I guess its a good thing, but still not easy to swallow. support is support, but im a bit weary when the enemy joins my side.

godblessbotox · June 13th, 2006, 07:54 AM

yay! everyone be happy! godblessbotox may yet visit the beech again

***LosAngelesSportsFan*** · June 13th, 2006, 08:24 AM

What a great day! first the Convention Center Hotel is released and now this! I cant wait for that fund. i think that 4 million coming to LA should fund the Downtown Connector, the LAX connection on the green line, the Expo extension to Santa Monica, and the first phase of the subway all the way to Westwood. Thats pretty much all it would take!!!

Zev is flip flopping, but i rather have him on our side than not. Maybe all those nasty letters i sent him is helping or its probably the fact that his constiuents are sick and tired of traffic and he sees this as a way to pander ot the voters.

klamedia · June 13th, 2006, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

What a great day! first the Convention Center Hotel is released and now this! I cant wait for that fund. i think that 4 million coming to LA should fund the Downtown Connector, the LAX connection on the green line, the Expo extension to Santa Monica, and the first phase of the subway all the way to Westwood. Thats pretty much all it would take!!!

Zev is flip flopping, but i rather have him on our side than not. Maybe all those nasty letters i sent him is helping or its probably the fact that his constiuents are sick and tired of traffic and he sees this as a way to pander ot the voters.

I think you mean 4 billion. 4 million would barely get us a bus.

Oh, perhaps that's the attitude I should take about Zev. But reading the link to the 2006 Long range plan that you posted in SSC, I now realize how much the MTA relies on local taxes to get things done. Zev's law has to be overturned.

BTW here is the link to the 2006 Long Range Transpo Plan!! It's really all carpool lanes and trains!!
http://www.mta.net/board/Items/2006/...m45handout.pdf

Fern~Fern* · June 13th, 2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solongfullerton

thats what i was thinking. wasnt zev holding back the subway to the westside 10 years ago? now hes jumping on the bandwagon?!?!!??!!? I guess its a good thing, but still not easy to swallow. support is support, but im a bit weary when the enemy joins my side.

^ Is best to keep your enemy close by so you can monitor his/her every move......... So we don't have to deal with unpleasant surprises out of them. So you see it's a win/win situation.

Robert Stark · June 14th, 2006, 12:13 AM

The expo should go to Venice instead since the red line down wilshire will serve SM.

archd1 · June 14th, 2006, 04:17 AM

The fact that traffic and transportation had become major political issues today, we can see some politician's over-eagerness to join the bandwagon! They are simply riding the wave that grass-roots transportation activists actually started and believe me they (the politicians) will take credit for this. Read the new thread I just submitted regarding the Orange Line.

klamedia · June 14th, 2006, 06:37 PM

I was on the Gold Line yesterday and the operator gave us a guided tour of the entire route! I mean he would not shut up! Yes, I mean slowing down so kids could look at farm animals, pointing out Taylor Yards previous occupation as an Indian burial ground and pointing out where the founder of the Southwest Museum lived. Oh look, and their's a teepee(slowing down even more). It greatly concerned me that though he was well meaning, this is (supposed to be)a utilitarian line not a tour guided bus. Who in their right mind would spend close to a billion dollars for a tour of a marginally interesting trek. I think I will have to contact the MTA on this. I mean the train is already dubbed 'slow gold'! If people want to see shit let them get off at the respective stop. What do you'll think??

Fern~Fern* · June 14th, 2006, 07:12 PM

^ Oh yea report him to MTA right away. He seems like a nut job who still thinks he's a tour guide @ Universal Studios Hollywood!

klamedia · June 14th, 2006, 09:30 PM

Oh yes, I've forgotten one last thing. While approaching and dwelling in the Southwest Museum station you wouldn't guess what happened next.......yes Native American music began playing over the speaker system! Close to a billion dollars was spent on this?!?!?

June 13th, 2006, 06:52 AM	#1
klamedia Silver Lake Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 5,012 Likes (Received): 16	Westside Cities, Elected Officials and Residents Unite For Mass Transit!! I think I've slipped and bumped my head........ By Kevin Herrera Daily Press Staff Writer WEST HOLLYWOOD — Drivers frustrated with severe traffic congestion may have something to smile about as leaders from the Westside gathered here Friday to pledge their support for extending a light rail line from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. The Exposition Light Rail Line is expected to significantly ease congested roads and highways by drawing an estimated 72,000 riders per day, said Roger Snoble, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Elected officials from Culver City, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, as well as the City and County of Los Angeles agreed to "speak with one voice" as they joined forces with Santa Monica to compete as a region for more transportation funding, including the estimated $750 million needed to extend the Expo rail line to the ocean. "The Westside, including Santa Monica, is Los Angeles' economic engine," said Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown. "We need, and deserve, mass transit, and with all of us speaking together, I believe we can make that happen." The commitment by local leaders to transportation projects with the greatest regional impact — instead of smaller, localized projects — comes on the heels of state lawmakers approving a $20 billion transportation bond on Thursday night to fund much-needed freeway improvements, street repairs and public transit. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff has given all indications that he will place the bond measure before voters on Nov. 7, along with a series of related infrastructure bonds for a grand total of $37 billion — the largest bond package in California history. Officials here hope to halt what they feel have been decades of neglect, and collect some of that money for the Expo Line, the possible extension of the region's subway system and the reconfiguration of the 1-10 interchange at Robertson and Venice boulevards. The overwhelming consensus is that the Expo extension should be top priority. "With the Legislature's move last night, we have a great opportunity ahead of us to make a tremendous impact on the Westside, an area that has been ignored for years when it comes to funding for mass transit," County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents Santa Monica, said Friday during the second Westside Transportation Symposium, held at the Pacific Design Center. "The Expo line must be viewed as a rail line to Santa Monica and nothing less," Yaroslavsky said as he spoke before a crowd of nearly 150 city planners, councilmembers and public transit advocates. "I want to see us rally together and get the money needed to keep this project moving forward. I do not want to see construction stopped at Culver City. I want a seamless transition (to Santa Monica)." Phase 1 of the Expo line, which will run from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City, is already underway, with construction scheduled to begin this summer at a cost of $650 million. Snoble of the MTA told local leaders during the symposium that the Expo line, if extended to Santa Monica, would be the MTA's most traveled line, serving the Santa Monica-Wilshire corridor — one of the top 10 employment centers in the region with 427,191 jobs. However, if the line is not extended, Snoble conceded it would not be as desirable to riders, many of whom need quick and easy transportation to Westwood, Venice and Santa Monica. "Expo really needs to get to Santa Monica before we can expect to see riders using it in abundance," Snoble said. But with the state sending approximately $200 million more in gas taxes to the federal government than it receives in funding, "it's going to take not just elected officials, but the business community, environmentalists, residents — all of them singing the same song so that we can't be ignored," Snoble said. NEGLECTED NEED Those who attended the symposium said there are a host of reasons why the Westside has continually been left out in the cold while other areas, such as San Bernardino, have seen an abundance of transportation funding. One of the reasons is the political leanings of the Westside, which is predominantly Democrat. With Republicans dictating spending priorities at the federal level, areas like Santa Monica and West Los Angeles are forgotten or dismissed, leaders here said. "I've told leaders in Congress time and time again, both publicly and privately, that we have to start funding where the needs are, not where it's politically favorable," Yaroslavsky said. Bill Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, the leading advocacy group for cities and suppliers for public transit, said the competition at the federal level is only going to increase as more cities begin to explore mass transit. THE COSTS OF SNOBBERY Some believe the lack of transportation funding stems from the area's affluence. There is a belief, some say, that wealthy Westside residents don't have a need for cheap, public transportation, or would never leave the comforts of their Hummers and BMWs to sit on a bus with someone who is homeless. "There's been that sort of stereotype out there, that we don't deserve public transit, but the reality is we are home to a significant number of jobs, and those employees need a better way to get to work than to waste time sitting in traffic," said Kathy Dodson, president of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, which has joined with other chambers to advocate for the Expo expansion and other projects. "It really is political, but with new leadership I think we are opening new doors and we will soon begin to see those results." GET OUT THE VOTE While the bonds would be placed on the ballot in November, there still would stand the task of getting people to approve them. Officials in Santa Monica said they will go to great lengths to educate residents about the need for these bonds. The Westside Cities Council of Governments, comprised of several cities in West Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, also intends to engage in an education effort to help drum up support for the unprecedented level of state spending. "When you develop grassroots support for something, it makes it easier for elected officials to lead and to get things done," said Darrell Clarke, a Santa Monica planning commissioner and co-chair of Friends 4 Expo, a group in support of the Expo extension. "What we have here now are all elected officials expressing their commitment to Expo and other projects that serve a regional need. We didn't have that four years ago." Aren't these the same fuckers who are the very reason we don't have a comprehensive rapid transit system today!!!! At least now they are behind transit but NEGLECTED????? "Sportsfan" please help me out here! Even Zev is up there talking! Overturn the fucking subway ban bitch!!! __________________ "Self defense is not violence" - Malcolm X "I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're so beautiful. Everything's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic." - Andy Warhol Minimum parking standards are fertility drugs for cars. - Donald Shoup

June 13th, 2006, 07:54 AM	#3
godblessbotox la is pritty Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Los Dieguana Posts: 2,335 Likes (Received): 0	yay! everyone be happy! godblessbotox may yet visit the beech again __________________ go silver line go!!! ...go aqua line go??? me+flickr=joy

June 14th, 2006, 06:37 PM	#9
klamedia Silver Lake Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 5,012 Likes (Received): 16	I was on the Gold Line yesterday and the operator gave us a guided tour of the entire route! I mean he would not shut up! Yes, I mean slowing down so kids could look at farm animals, pointing out Taylor Yards previous occupation as an Indian burial ground and pointing out where the founder of the Southwest Museum lived. Oh look, and their's a teepee(slowing down even more). It greatly concerned me that though he was well meaning, this is (supposed to be)a utilitarian line not a tour guided bus. Who in their right mind would spend close to a billion dollars for a tour of a marginally interesting trek. I think I will have to contact the MTA on this. I mean the train is already dubbed 'slow gold'! If people want to see shit let them get off at the respective stop. What do you'll think?? __________________ "Self defense is not violence" - Malcolm X "I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're so beautiful. Everything's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic." - Andy Warhol Minimum parking standards are fertility drugs for cars. - Donald Shoup

June 14th, 2006, 07:12 PM	#10
Fern~Fern* Inquiry Within... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Currently residing in the good Ol' IE until something else arises from the horizon. Posts: 7,424 Likes (Received): 8	^ Oh yea report him to MTA right away. He seems like a nut job who still thinks he's a tour guide @ Universal Studios Hollywood! __________________ You're so FAKE that you should have two Facebook accounts, one for each face.... ~~By Fern to the Fern*

June 14th, 2006, 09:30 PM	#11
klamedia Silver Lake Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lost Angeles Posts: 5,012 Likes (Received): 16	Oh yes, I've forgotten one last thing. While approaching and dwelling in the Southwest Museum station you wouldn't guess what happened next.......yes Native American music began playing over the speaker system! Close to a billion dollars was spent on this?!?!? __________________ "Self defense is not violence" - Malcolm X "I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're so beautiful. Everything's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic." - Andy Warhol Minimum parking standards are fertility drugs for cars. - Donald Shoup

June 13th, 2006, 07:32 AM	#2
solongfullerton Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 292 Likes (Received): 0	thats what i was thinking. wasnt zev holding back the subway to the westside 10 years ago? now hes jumping on the bandwagon?!?!!??!!? I guess its a good thing, but still not easy to swallow. support is support, but im a bit weary when the enemy joins my side.

June 13th, 2006, 08:24 AM	#4
*LosAngelesSportsFan* Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,921 Likes (Received): 15	What a great day! first the Convention Center Hotel is released and now this! I cant wait for that fund. i think that 4 million coming to LA should fund the Downtown Connector, the LAX connection on the green line, the Expo extension to Santa Monica, and the first phase of the subway all the way to Westwood. Thats pretty much all it would take!!! Zev is flip flopping, but i rather have him on our side than not. Maybe all those nasty letters i sent him is helping or its probably the fact that his constiuents are sick and tired of traffic and he sees this as a way to pander ot the voters.

June 14th, 2006, 12:13 AM	#7
Robert Stark BANNED Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 958 Likes (Received): 0	The expo should go to Venice instead since the red line down wilshire will serve SM.

June 14th, 2006, 04:17 AM	#8
archd1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 185 Likes (Received): 0	The fact that traffic and transportation had become major political issues today, we can see some politician's over-eagerness to join the bandwagon! They are simply riding the wave that grass-roots transportation activists actually started and believe me they (the politicians) will take credit for this. Read the new thread I just submitted regarding the Orange Line.

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