Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement, after Metro’s release of a project list for a proposed tax measure to go before voters on the November ballot to fund transit projects:
“The R2 project list must first and foremost ensure geographic equity across our region; there are 88 cities in Los Angeles County, not just one. Taxpayers across the County will be asked to pay an additional half-cent sales tax and in return, they should all see benefits. Promises were made to taxpayers eight years ago when voters approved Measure R. Now, some of those commitments are being pushed down the road. We must not allow high-profile projects to leapfrog rail and highway improvements that can be made in all areas of the County.
Fixing congested areas across the County is not just about rail, we must have multi-modal solutions including better bus service, road improvements and more bike lanes. Metro’s highway program, for example, can have a huge effect on the quality-of-life in communities, often for less budget and less time. With over 40 percent of the nation’s imports coming through our two ports, we must make infrastructure improvements to better move goods, which provide a big economic boost to our region. As the Metro Board analyzes this proposal, we must consider geographic equity and balance as top priorities. I look forward to delving into the details of this proposed program and for us to receive community input from across Los Angeles County.”