MEASURE R: OVERVIEW, SUCCESSES, AND PROPOSED CONTINUATION

Thanks to Measure R, more transit and highway projects are opening, under construction, or in the planning stages than at anytime in the history of Los Angeles County. New construction has already created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, with a projected 410,000 total jobs over the life of Measure R.

Current State law limits Measure R to 30 years. Removing this provision would allow Measure R to continue until voters themselves decide to end it. In doing so, we can expand our transit network faster while keeping fares low, connect more of the City and County, and almost double the number of jobs that are created over the next 10 years.

MEASURE R

In November 2008, Measure R, a half-cent sales tax for financing new transportation projects and accelerating those already in the pipeline, was approved by a two-thirds majority by the voters of LA County.

Measure R committed a projected $40 billion to traffic relief and transportation upgrades throughout the county over 30 years while creating an estimated 410,000 new jobs.

In addition to expediting transportation projects, Measure R has funded Metrolink and Metro Rail safety and the purchase of new clean-fueled buses for Metro and municipal bus operators. Measure R has also paid for pothole repair, traffic signalization, bike and pedestrian programs and more as part of the local return program.

KEY SUCCESSES

KEEPING FARES LOW FOR SENIORS AND STUDENTS

Metro fares for seniors, students, the disabled, and Medicare recipients under Measure R were frozen at current levels for five years. A general fare increase for regular riders was postponed for one year after Measure R passed.

SIMULTANEOUS AND EXPEDITED TRANSIT PROJECTS

Measure R funding will enable Metro to work on five major light rail and subway lines simultaneously. Historically, Metro has typically built one major rail line at a time. Within four years, Metro will be operating more than 100 miles of track as Expo and Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension open.

MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECTS SET TO OPEN

• The Metro Orange Line busway extension to the Chatsworth Metrolink/Amtrak station is opening in June ahead of schedule and projected to be under budget MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
• The Metro Gold line Foothill Extension to Azusa is under construction
• Expo Phase II from Culver City to Santa Monica is under construction
• Within a year, Metro will break ground on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project and begin utility relocations for the Westside subway extension and Regional Connector

MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECTS IN THE PLANNING PHASE

• Transit improvements in the East San Fernando Valley North/South transit corridor
• Green Line extension to LAX
• Green Line extension from Redondo Beach to South Bay Galleria
• Eastside Transit Corridor Phase II (from East Los Angeles)
• Rapid transit through the Sepulveda Pass along the I-405 corridor
• A new West Santa Ana transit corridor

EXPEDITED HIGHWAY PROJECTS

While we expand our public transportation system, Measure R makes sure that our highways meet residents’ needs. There are currently 15 Measure R highway projects in various stages of construction and planning.

MAJOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

• Carpool lanes in both directions along the I-5 between SR-134/SR-170
• Direct link for carpoolers between the I-5 and SR-14 freeways
• Carpool lanes and one new mixed flow lane in both directions on the I-5 between the I605 and Orange County Line
• Carpool lanes and one new mixed flow lane in both directions on the I-5 Carmenita Road Interchange
• Truck lanes on the I-5 from SR-14 to Pico Canyon Road in North LA County

MAJOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN THE PLANNING PHASE

• I-710 gap closure
• Projects to better handle truck traffic serving the ports on I-710 south
• High Desert Corridor Project linking the Antelope Valley to Apple Valley

PROPOSED CONTINUATION

Current State law limits Measure R to 30 years. By continuing Measure R beyond 2039 and keeping it in place until the voters, themselves, decide to end it, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will have additional future revenue that it will be able to bond against. This will make it possible for Los Angeles to accelerate highway improvements, transit construction, and create 410,000 jobs.

Continuing Measure R would not increase taxes; it would simply keep the current half-penny sales tax residents currently pay.

PROCESS

To continue Measure R, the State Legislature and Governor have to approve legislation being led by Assembly member Mike Feuer which would remove the current expiration of the half-penny sales tax in 2039.

The MTA Board would then have to vote before the November election to place a Measure R continuation on the ballot.

In order for Measure R continuation to be approved, it would require a two-thirds vote of the people – just as it did in 2008.

PROJECT ACCELERATION

A continuation of Measure R Extension would allow us to complete:

• The Westside Subway to Westwood13 years sooner (2023)
• The Green Line to LAX 10 years sooner (2018)
• The Gold Line to Whittier or El Monte 15 years sooner (2020)
• A new project in the southeast county 8 years sooner (2019)
• The extension of the Green Line in the South Bay 17 years sooner (2018)
• A new project connecting west Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley by 2020

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