Purple Line One Step Closer to the Sea

Whether you agree with our Mayor's initiatives or not, you have to give him props for going after all his campaign promises. And we're happy today that he announced that a large political hurdle has been jumped without a scar on the butt. The Subway to the Sea is inching closer.

H.R. 238, sponsored by Congressman Henry Waxman and passed on a voice vote in the House of Representatives today, repeals a previous action by Congress that prevented the use of federal funding from being spent on a subway project along the Wilshire corridor. That preventative bill was also sponsored by Waxman back in the day. See the flip-flop?

“Very few issues affect the quality of life in Los Angeles more than traffic gridlock,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Getting stuck in traffic is more than just an inconvenience. It keeps us away from our families, it pollutes our environment and it costs our economy. Building a subway to the sea will get Los Angeles moving again.”

Los Angeles ranks first in the country in time that drivers spend stuck in traffic with the average driver in Los Angeles losing 93 hours -- more than two entire work weeks every year to traffic. Traffic gridlock costs the greater Los Angeles economy over $11 billion per year.

Okay Mr. Mayor. Next campaign, promise the subway from the Valley to LAX. Thanks!