Move LA built the powerful business-labor-environmental coalition that got the Measure R half-cent sales tax for transportation on the ballot in 2008 and helped ensure its passage. Because of Measure R Los Angeles has embarked on this country’s most ambitious transit expansion — a virtual doubling of the size of LA County’s fixed-guideway transit system from 120 miles and 103 stations to 236 miles and 200 stations. (“Fixed-guideway” refers to transit projects using exclusive rights-of-way or rails.) Move LA’s ever-expanding coalition is now working at the federal, state and local levels to help implement Measure R and to accelerate the construction of the 12 Measure R funded rail and bus rapid transit lines. We believe that not only will an accelerated implementation of Measure R help kick-start the economy and create thousands of jobs, but it will also enhance LA’s global competitiveness, increase the region’s economic and environmental sustainability, improve air quality and traffic congestion, and help reduce household transportation costs. Join us in this effort by clicking on the “Act Now” link on the top navigation bar of our website and choose “Join Our Effort.”
Find out more about what we do below.
LA TRANSIT SYSTEM MAPS
These five maps of LA’s fixed-guideway transit system show the system in 1) 1990, 2) 2000, 3) 2008, 4) the Measure R-funded expansion, 5) “Measure R+” with one view of possible enhancements, and 6) Measure R+ with Metrolink enhancements. “Fixed-guideway” refers to transit projects using exclusive rights-of-way or rails.
LA Transit System Maps
THE 30-10 PLAN: ACCELERATING THE MEASURE R TRANSIT PROGRAM
After the adoption of Measure R, Move LA created a coalition to support a proposed National Infrastructure Development Bank, and Mayor Villaraigosa proposed the transit-focused 30-10 Plan to accelerate the build-out of all 12 Measure R-funded transit projects in 10 years instead of 30. Move LA worked with its business-labor-environmental coalition to build support in all sectors, inviting the building trades, engineering companies and mayors across the U.S. to join the campaign. The press conference (links at bottom) with Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman John Mica was evidence of the powerful bipartisan, business-labor, local-national coalition that came together in support of more funding and financing tools for transportation infrastructure.
National Infrastructure Development Bank Sign-On Letter
30-10 Petition Text
30-10 Petition Signers
National mayors sign-on letter
Boxer-Mica-Trumka-Donohue press conference story
Boxer-Mica-Trumka-Donohue press conference video
“AMERICA FAST FORWARD” CODIFIES 30-10 PLAN IN 2012 FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION
The 27-month $105 billion MAP-21 federal surface transportation bill was passed by Congress on June 29, 2012, after 12 extensions over 2 years due to the inability of the Senate and House to reach agreement. While the bill continues current funding levels plus inflation, providing transportation agencies with the certainty required to move forward with projects, it did not achieve all the goals of transit advocates. MAP- 21 did include the “America Fast Forward” program, however, which the USDOT says is the largest transportation infrastructure finance fund in the department’s history, and could result in up to $50 billion in transportation investment.
Move LA joins Senator Boxer’s MAP-21 press conference on the 405
Transportation for America’s “Top 10 Things to Know About MAP-21”
The Federal Transit Administration’s MAP-21 website
USDOT announces $1.7 billion in TIFIA loans
USDOT’s TIFIA Program Guide
MEASURE R EXTENSION PROPOSED
LA Metro has proposed to ask voters to extend Measure R from 30 years to 60, which would allow Metro to bond against a longer revenue stream at very low interest rates and raise more money upfront. An extended Measure R together with the federal TIFIA loan program could accelerate construction of 12 Measure R-funded transit projects and 16 highway projects — reducing the 30-year build-out to 10 years and avoiding inflation in the price of labor and materials over the longer term. These projects are estimated to produce 400,000 jobs. The documents posted below include Metro’s estimation of changes to cost and schedules should Measure R be extended by voters as proposed.
Measure R Extension Expenditure Plan
Measure R Extension Cost and Schedule Changes
Assemblymember Michael Feuer’s AB 1446
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Move LA built regional support for a groundbreaking 2012 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) emphasizing investment in a regional transit system, community development near high-frequency transit lines, and more funding for bike and pedestrian projects. The Southern California Association of Government’s 83-member Regional Council unanimously approved the RTP/SCS as well as a motion by the Move LA coalition emphasizing investments in Metrolink and active transportation, and monitoring the health impacts of investments.
RTP/SCS Executive Summary
Move LA Motion
MEASURE R FUNDING PIE CHART
The LA County Economic Development Corporation estimates Measure R costs residents of LA County about $25/person per year. The pie chart on page 4 of this Measure R fact sheet shows how the money is spent: 35% on rail, 25% on bus and rail operating costs, 20% on highway improvements, 15% on local return to cities, 5% on Metrolink. The Measure R and Measure R Extension expenditure plans provide more detail.
Measure R Fact Sheet
Measure R Expenditure Plan
MEASURE R LOCAL RETURN
LA County voters have passed three half-cent sales tax measures for transportation generating more than $1 billion a year — Measure R (2008), Proposition C (1990) and Proposition A (1980). A percentage of these revenues are returned to the cities and county, including 15% of Measure R, 20% of Prop C, and 25% of Prop A. This Local Return chart shows the local return from Measure R for each jurisdiction.
Measure R Local Return
PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
CAREERS POLICIES AT LA METRO
Move LA worked to support the Project Labor Agreement that was proposed by the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council and unanimously adopted at LA Metro, and a Construction Careers Policy proposed by the LA County Federation of Labor and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE). These policies, unanimously approved by the LA Metro Board, cover all transit and highway projects costing more than $2.5 million and are expected to make available tens of thousands of good jobs to people struggling in low-income communities. Metro is the first transit agency in the nation to win federal approval for a PLA with targeted hiring goals for federally funded projects.
LA Metro Project Labor Agreement and Construction Careers Policy
HIGH SPEED RAIL
Move LA worked with partners across the state to support the “blended approach” to building high-speed rail in California: The idea is to upgrade existing commuter and freight rail tracks to accommodate high-speed trains – allowing HSR to share tracks and rail corridors — while simultaneously investing in new HSR infrastructure in the Central Valley. The plan provides $1 billion to upgrade commuter rail in Southern California.
Moving Ahead Press Release
Moving Ahead Report
Moving Ahead Executive Summary
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Move LA worked with LA County Supervisor and LA Metro Board Member Mark Ridley-Thomas on a policy that makes it a matter of course for Metro to consider renewable energy sources for the construction and operation of all new facilities and transit lines. The policy was unanimously approved.
LA Metro Renewable Energy Policy
LA Metro Renewable Energy Policy Update