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Busway to Nowhere
As every concerned, involved citizen of Los Angeles knows (and LAist certainly qualifies as that, and more), the Orange Line work stoppage is costing taxpayers money.
But just how much?
Our crack team of mathmaticians bent low over their Texas Instruments pocket calculators and produced this number: $70,000 a day (MTA's numbers) times 11 days of idle work crews (no LADOT jokes, please), equals $770,000. If the project is cancelled, the cost could run as high as $100 million. That's a lot of taxpayer cheese!
Money for more cops. Money for schools. Money for parks. Money to spend on EPA fines for our dirty air.
It's a good thing that the disingenously named Citizens Organized for Smart Transit are saving us from ourselves. If we have to lose $100 million to learn a lesson about government waste, they'll consider it a victory. Taxpayers and Valley commuters might have a different opinion.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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