During the first year after the half-cent sale tax increase begins (LA County will then be 8.75%), an estimated $650 million for transit projects will be collected, according to Metro who today said a "comprehensive financial plan that will lay out a strategy for delivering projects," will be presented in January. Projects that will be funded include the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension in the San Gabriel Valley, Regional Light Rail Connector in Downtown LA,......

Photo by Adan Garcia via Flickr Although it was predicted to win the day after the election, Measure R, the half-cent tax increase that is expected to raise $30 to $40 billion over the next 30 years for transit projects, finally passed today with 100% of the votes tallied. It won by 27,000 votes, which was slim for a ballot measure that required two-thirds to pass it. The final tally is Yes) 2,039,214 votes,......

'Urban Light' at LACMA | Photo by nailmaker via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the single largest contributor to Measure R, was questioned yesterday for donating close to a million dollars to support the campaign to pass the initiative that proposed raising the county's sales tax half-cent for transportation projects, including a possible subway rolling down Wilshire Blvd. with a stop right outside the museum. LACMA is......

Photo by LA Wad via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr As Metrolink announces their inclusion in Google Transit today (although, it's been live since October), Steve Hymon at the LA Times takes a rightfully and just swing at Metro for still not working with Google. There remains one huge glitch with Google Transit, and it's not Metrolink's fault. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been in talks with Google Transit about providing......

Bill Boyarsky, former LA Times columnist and LA Observed blogger, writes an op-ed today in the Times about the passing of the two transit propositions--high speed rail and LA County transit funding--on the November ballot could emulate Depression era projects. "Thanks to two measures that were on the Nov. 4 ballot, we have the prospect of financing public works projects that can put the growing number of unemployed to work, just as the dams and......

View a larger version of this map Although expected to pass, it's still extremely close to call. Measure R, which will raise LA County's sales tax a half-cent on the dollar for transportation, is winning by 27,630 votes. It needs two-thirds to pass and it's currently less than a percent higher than that at 67.65%. "At this point, the majority of absentee and provisional ballots have been counted," Bottleneck blogger Steve Hymon notes. Blogger......

Photo by LindsayWilliamRoss via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Daily News' transit writer Sue Doyle today explores the Orange Line and why some people are frustrated with it. Namely, to go 14-miles between North Hollywood and Warner Center, it takes 40 minutes. That's too slow so how can it be sped up? Some want light rail, others say put gates at the intersections and give the buses a right-of-way so they don't have wait......

If it gets prioritized funding, the Metro Orange Line's swoop to the north from Canoga Park to the Chatsworth Train Station could begin construction in 2010 and be in operation by 2013, finds Curbed LA. Four new stations will be added and every other westbound bus from North Hollywood will travel the new route. The Gold Line extension to East LA will open next year and the Expo Line from downtown to Culver City is......

Photo by GarySe7en via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr "It depends on how you look at it," Steve Hymon at the Bottleneck Blog said. In October, Metro's ridership increased when you compare it to October's 2007 ridership. However, on a month-to-month basis, ridership in general--except for the subway--is dipping as gas prices continue to fall. But the real question for many is if the late-night subway service beginning this Friday will have enough ridership......

Albeit slowly, the 10 year process is now in a community meeting phase. Last night, StreetsblogLA writer Damien Newton attended: "By removing buses from the snail's pace of rush hour traffic, Metro will be able to sweepingly reverse the trend of longer commutes for transit riders along the Wilshire Corridor. Rex Gephardt, who oversees the Rapid Bus program for Metro, noted that bus speeds are declining by .5% to .75% every year in the corridor."......

As of part of today's regionwide 10 a.m. earthquake drill, Metro will be slowing its trains for one hour between 10 and 11 this morning. Their purpose is "so maintenance personnel can simulate inspections on track and other rail infrastructure... Over the course of this one hour period, trains may run at minimum operating speeds (under 20 mph), depending on the location of the train and the exact time. All passengers riding during this time......

Hello, East LA. "Construction of the Metro Gold Line extension to East Los Angeles that began in July 2004 is 90 percent complete and still within budget and on schedule for the grand opening in the summer of 2009," says Metro today in a press release (emphasis added).......

Catenary wires that came down for unknown reasons on Tuesday afternoon will cause delays on the Metro Green Line this morning. Due to a single track operation, trains will operate every fifteen to twenty minutes as crews repair the overhead wires near the Imperial Station where railway intersects the Blue Line. "Crowded conditions will exist until repairs are completed," warned Metro.......

Photo by GarySe7en via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Measure R, the ballot initiative that sought to raise LA County's sales tax a half percent on the dollar barely won by a 1% margin--it needed a two-thirds vote. Even though about 3.5 million county residents voted, over a million of those voters opted to not vote for the measure that is expected to bring in $40 billion in transportation funding over the next 30......

For an interactive version of this map, it's below the jump Hundreds of thousands of people will descend upon West Hollywood this weekend to party it up on the streets. But with all those people means a high demand on streets already ill-fit for daily traffic. So here's some logistical info to help you if you're going. And if you have any tips, make sure to write them in the comments section below. Street......

Photo by GarySe7en via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr In what amounts to the dumbest reason to oppose a measure, the city's Engineers and Architects Association that represents 10,000 employees has come out against Measure R, the half-cent sales tax ballot initiative to raise $40 billion for transportation projects: "Much of the reason has to do with the fact that we don't trust this mayor," Union head Bob Aquino is quoted saying the Daily......

Presenting different angles, the Yes on Measure R people released three new ads today featuring UCLA Professor Jonathan Steward talking about bridge integrity during earthquakes, Don Sepulveda of the American Society of Civil Engineers regarding rail safety (think Chatsworth train crash) and Trisha Murakawa of the American Lung Association on environmental benefits. All three are relavent issues and will play on people's fears or concerns differently. Also: Rick Orlov at the Daily News points this......

That is, if you take public transit between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles on Santa Clarita Transit's commuter express routes. Officials in Santa Clarita acted fast to solve a problem they could forsee happening again. A protest a couple months ago in Westwood caused major traffic delays and bus stop changes. With little communication to riders except for e-mail (because not everyone has a Blackberry they check obsessively), that afternoon became a bit hectic for......

That's right, in only two months since it was first proposed, Metro, at the behest of the city and community, will dabble into extended late-night subway service. Trains will operate every 20 minutes until 3:00 a.m. for a total of thirteen Friday and Saturday nights--November 21st to the end of the year--during the holiday season. "Backers hope that ridership during the holiday trial will convince Metro that late-night service is an ongoing need," reports blogdowntown......

A group of UCLA students, under the auspices of Bruins for Traffic Relief, hit the streets last Friday to garner support for Measure R, the countywide ballot initiative that would raise the sales tax a half-cent in order to raise an estimated $40 billion for transit over the next 30 years. "As the largest trip-attractor on the Westside, with a daytime population of 55,000, UCLA stands to greatly benefit from new transportation options on the......

The first of Metro's regional connector meeting for a proposed line that would let the Gold, Blue and future Expo light rail lines to combine for longer trips (think Pasadena to Long Beach without transfer) was held this afternoon. Blogdowntown reports the majority of attendees at the packed meeting voiced support for the underground option, the most logical option considering one auto vs. train accident on the above ground plan could halt a regional transit......

Photo by aharvey2k via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr As of this morning, here's the latest on road closures and public transit routes affected by the Sesnon and Marek Fires (things can change, if they do, they should be updated at (800) 439-2909): If You're Driving: Following Streets are Closed Topanga Canyon Boulevard northbound at Chatsworth Avenue De Soto Avenue northbound at Rinaldi Street Corbin Avenue northbound at Porter Ranch Drive Mason Avenue northbound......

If you're traveling into, out of or through areas affected by the Sesnon or Marek Fire, here's the latest as of a 3:15 p.m. update sent out by the Mayor's Office. The more current info is updated at (800) 439-2909. Below are roadway and public transit updates: If You're Driving Sesnon Bl closed west of Balboa and in both directions between Porter Ranch Dr. and Tampa Avenue Jollete St and Neon PL are streets are......

A conceptualized regional connector map | Download the full size here (.pdf) Imagine a day when the Gold Line Eastside Extension to East LA and the Expo Line to Culver City are completed (2009 and 2010, respectively). But if you're traveling from Culver City to Little Tokyo, you'll have to take the Expo Line to the Red Line to the Gold Line. Headache, right? That's what Metro's Regional Connector project is seeking to fix.......

Pasadena Blog, Under the Dome, has found that there is an alternative plan/idea to expand the Gold Line out to Claremont. Instead of light rail, as we know the Gold Line today, the extension would be Metrolink. From reporter Dan Abendschein: "An alternative plan, said Snoble, would be to build the Gold Line as far as Azusa/Glendora, then build a heavy rail Metrolink line from there to Claremont to link the Gold Line to existing......

The tram in San Diego, as seen in 1994 | Photo by LHOON via Flickr With $5 million already committed by the city, Councilman and streetcar proponent Jose Huizar has found another $1 million to help lay the foundation for a downtown streetcar operating a 3.4 mile route in what he hopes is by 2014. After finding out that the Upper 2nd Street project was completed $1 million under budget, reports Eric Richardson of......

In a scathing editorial, the Long Beach Press-Telegram is telling people to vote no on Measure R, the LA County ballot initiative that will raise the sales tax one half-cent in order to raise $40 billion over 30 years for transportation projects. Complaining that Southeastern LA County will not get much, if any, of the funding (did they even speak up like the San Gabriel Valley did?) and focusing their attention on West LA commuters......

The Rapid 720, one of Metro's most popular bus lines traversing Wilshire between Santa Monica and downtown, along with a couple others routes will be a little funky tomorrow. From those in charge: "Metro bus service will be temporary detoured Sunday, October 5 on Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax Avenue and Orange Drive due to the Tarfest Miracle Mile Run. The Metro Bus lines impacted will be lines 20 and 720 on Wilshire Boulevard and Metro......

As expected, the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles voted to give $5 million towards a 3.4 mile downtown streetcar route. But there is still a long way to go as the project is expected to cost $90 million with up to half of the funding possibly coming from the private sector. Earlier this week, LA City Councilman Jose Huizar said that he intends on riding the streetcar in 2014.......

Using Google Transit, a trip from Union Station to Chatsworth on a Metrolink Train Last week, vowing to help make NYC transit less complicated, New York City and Google officially launched Google Transit's ability to help people navigate the city. So it got us thinking. If New York City has it and Chicago has it in addition to Orange County, San Diego, Burbank, Irvine, Metrolink Trains and Thousand Oaks, when will Metro, Los Angeles'......