Analysis: MTA, County Vote to Place Transportation Initiative on Ballot
By Victor LindenheimExecutive Director, Golden State Gateway CoalitionOn July 24, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board voted 9-2 to place a transportation funding proposal on the November ballot. The proposal, to add ½ cent to the County sales tax, would ostensibly raise $40 billion over 30 years to pay for projects in Los Angeles County’s long range transportation plan (LRTP). Three billion dollars is committed to transit capital projects, the lion’s share going to light rail and subway projects; $1.2 billion is reserved for highway projects, including a capacity enhancement to I-5… [+] read more
Analysis: MTA, County Vote to Place Transportation Initiative on Ballot
By Victor LindenheimExecutive Director, Golden State Gateway CoalitionOn July 24, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board voted 9-2 to place a transportation funding proposal on the November ballot. The proposal, to add ½ cent to the County sales tax, would ostensibly raise $40 billion over 30 years to pay for projects in Los Angeles County’s long range transportation plan (LRTP). Three billion dollars is committed to transit capital projects, the lion’s share going to light rail and subway projects; $1.2 billion is reserved for highway projects, including a capacity enhancement to I-5 from SR-134 to SR-170. Another $470 million is locked in for bus operations, Metrolink and local projects. In case you don’t have a calculator handy, that’s $4.7 billion already committed to be spent beginning in 2010. The plan includes at least two funding elements in the highway projects category that are of interest to the Coalition and other I-5 Gateway Improvement project advocates and allies: a projected $410 million allotment toward I-5 (“truck lanes to Kern County”); and inclusion of $90.8 million allotment for the I-5/SR 14 interchange improvement. The $410 million allotment for “I-5 North Capacity Enhancements” is not a guaranteed up-front “minimum,” as specified for a select group of priority highway and transit projects. It is a soft promise that, after priorities are funded, I-5 project funding needs can be seriously considered. And when will MTA LRTP money for I-5 construction be there? The expenditure plan says: “as funds become available.” It is assumed by MTA that the ½ cent sales tax will generate $40 billion over 30 years. For simplicity’s sake, let’s generously assume that the revenue will flow evenly year-to-year. That would mean it would take just under five years to fund the priority projects specified in the expenditure plan. So, if I understand the proposed ordinance and enabling legislative language as proposed, we’ll just have to wait and see on the other $35 billion in potential and secondary projects, which currently includes north county’s priorities. However, the ordinance language contains a small, but important silver lining that could be beneficial to I-5 advocates. It specifies (in Section 7 – “Use of Revenues”) that surplus funds for completed highway capital projects can be used for highway projects in the same subregion. And here’s why the $90.8 million specified for the I-5/SR-14 Interchange Improvement is of interest: it is already funded from other sources. Anything remaining should be available for I-5 and/or other highway improvements in Northern Los Angeles County. There are still some tall hurdles in the process before we see a sales tax increase and a new pot of money for transportation improvements in Los Angeles County. The County Board of Supervisors has authorized placement of the tax proposal on the ballot, while indicating their opposition to its passage; the state Legislature must pass authorizing legislation; and the voters must pass the ordinance with a 2/3 majority in favor. But, for all the uncertainties of passage and implementation, the possibility of having new resources on hand is appealing. The bottom line: The proposal offers tangible transportation improvements to people who live, work and play in Los Angeles County, if not necessarily with an equitable distribution of costs and benefits. However, the proposal offers a possibility — not a promise — of funding for the I-5 Gateway Improvement Project and improvements to SR-14 and SR-138. The Gateway Coalition’s mission is to improve roadway transportation in northern Los Angeles County. Our priority is the Interstate 5 corridor. The Gateway Coalition’s position on this should, and will, reflect the needs and concerns of its members and the citizens of L.A. County. More information about the MTA is available at: www.mta.net[-]
A Seamless Connection
Interchange Improvement Will Enable Drivers to Transfer from Route 14 to I-5 without Leaving the Carpool Lane
If you’re a commuter who uses State Route 14, and you’ve lamented that the  new Interstate 5 carpool lanes between SR 118 and SR 14 end just a little too soon, help is on the way. The California Department of Transportation has begun construction on an interchange improvement project that will bring high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes into the Newhall Pass. “This project is helping to provide a seamless transportation system — and will allow carpoolers a freeway-to-freeway transfer without… [+] read more
A Seamless Connection
Interchange Improvement Will Enable Drivers to Transfer from Route 14 to I-5 without Leaving the Carpool Lane
If you’re a commuter who uses State Route 14, and you’ve lamented that the new Interstate 5 carpool lanes between SR 118 and SR 14 end just a little too soon, help is on the way. The California Department of Transportation has begun construction on an interchange improvement project that will bring high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes into the Newhall Pass. “This project is helping to provide a seamless transportation system — and will allow carpoolers a freeway-to-freeway transfer without leaving the carpool lane,” said Jeanne Bonfilio, Public Information Officer for Caltrans. The $156 million project is part of Caltrans’ effort to provide motorists with a seamless carpool lane network in California. Once completed, the I-5/SR14 interchange improvement would complement the proposed I-5 Gateway improvements that would be made in the Santa Clarita Valley, with truck climbing lanes and HOV lanes between Calgrove Boulevard and Castaic. “The north Los Angeles County area is seeing more and more improvements to the California freeway system — especially with the recent completion of the first carpool lane on I-5 in Los Angeles County from SR-118 to SR-14,” Bonfilio said. The interchange improvement project involves construction of an elevated two-lane direct HOV connector at the I-5 and State Route 14 interchange, and construction of HOV lanes in both the north and south direction of the I-5 at the interchange. The direct HOV connector will allow motorists a freeway-to-freeway transfer without exiting the carpool lane. Preliminary work on the interchange improvement began in July, and work is estimated to be complete in the fall of 2012. The new lanes are all part of Caltrans’ plans not only to improve the region’s freeway system, but also to encourage carpooling. According to a Caltrans summary of the project, “Construction of this direct HOV connector and HOV lanes will relieve congestion, improve traffic flow, enhance safety and improve traffic operations of both freeways at the I-5/14 Interchange.” Bonfilio said motorists have responded favorably to Caltrans’ efforts to add HOV lanes to the freeway system. “Los Angeles has more carpool lanes than any county in California — and California has more carpool lanes than any state in the nation,” Bonfilio said. “Caltrans has received so much positive feedback from these improvements.” [-]
Golden State Gateway Coalition:Who We Are and What We Do
The Golden State Gateway Coalition (I-5)
is a non-profit transportation education and advocacy organization
based in Santa Clarita.
- Our members include community, business and government leaders who live in, work in and represent the
interests of the fastest growing sub-region in Los Angeles County.
- Our
goal is to improve roadway mobility, safety and goods movement throughout northern Los Angeles County.
- The Interstate 5 corridor is our
priority. It is an important regional transportation
facility and is a key
economic lifeline linking job centers, cities, ports, agriculture, and
tourist attractions throughout California.
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