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Big Step for Public Transit: 30/10 Plan Officially Supported by Metro Board
Photo by Open Air Control Testing Ground via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Earth Day or not, the move to build 12 major transit projects in 10 years--instead of 30 as they are currently planned for--was wholly supported by the Metro Board of Directors today. The 30/10 Plan, as touted by Mayor (and cheerleader) Antonio Villaraigosa, would ask congress to loan billions of dollars upfront for the projects with a guarantee of paying it back, thanks to the Measure R sales tax.
Even Supervisor Michael Antonovich, who wanted regional equity with highway projects in the northern parts of the county, was happy when amendments to also support highway projects were added, even though they are not on the official list of 30/10 transit projects.
If this landmark idea actually becomes a reality, we'll be seeing some projects years before expected. "The Westside Subway Extension wasn’t scheduled to reach Westwood until 2036 and the Green Line South Bay Extension was also supposed to be done in 2035. The 405-Sepulveda Pass transit project wasn’t scheduled to be done until 2039," explained Steve Hymon at Metro. If the money were to come this year, these projects should, in theory, be completed at least by 2020.
And with the board support of 30/10, there's a new Metro webpage dedicated to it.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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