Jose, you hit the nail right on the head. This proposal is designed to cater to political interests rather than the projects that will have the biggest impacts in terms of regional mobility.

This ballot measure needs to at least make an attempt at fulfilling the LRTP adopted by Metro in 2009. To do this, Denny Zane must again recalculate the numbers. Allotting 25% each to “transit operations” and “local return funds” is not necessary; try 15% to each, instead.

So with 50% of the funds ($45 billion) going to Metro Rail, you can build a heavy rail line stretching from Sylmar to LAX, extend the Green Line to Santa Monica, extend the Red Line down Vermont, create seamless LRT line between Claremont and Chatsworth, and so much more.

Move LA says that they want to build upon Measure R, but it sure doesn’t seem that way.

Why is the Gold Line to Claremont a priority? Nothing against the SGV foothill communities, but you just got an extension to Azusa. The Crenshaw Line extension to Hollywood should have higher priority since it serves a more dense a jobs-rich center of our city. Another potential and much more deserving line is the Green Line extension from LAX to Westchester, Venice and eventually to the Expo Line. It’s really ludicrous to continue extending the Gold Line further east into less dense and suburban areas while more deserving areas keep getting pushed back.

Allocating 45% of the funds to rail projects (40% for Metro Rail) should be enough to cover the Orange Line’s conversion to LRT, upgrade the SFV-SGV connector from BRT to LRT, and extend the Red Line to the Expo/Vermont station.

Come on Move LA, step it up!

What happened to converting the Orange Line to LRT?

Let’s face it, $27 billion is nowhere near the amount required to build the Metro Rail system the county needs and deserves.

Extension of Green Line to Norwalk Amtrak/Metrolink should be higher priority. Filling that 2-mile gap would have benefits and produce ridership increases that greatly exceed the cost. One could travel from San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties to points on the LA Westside, including LAX, without having to make the much longer trip via Union Station.

Merritt

Measure R included building the Foothill Gold Line all the way to Claremont – it was defined that way in Measure R. It should therefore be in Priority 1 “Complete Measure R rail transit lines”.
-Albert Ho, Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority