April 28, 2016

Mr. Phillip A. Washington, Chief Executive

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Re: Long Beach Comments Draft Potential Ballot Measure Expenditure Plan
Dear Mr. Washington:
The City of Long Beach is providing comments on the Los Angeles County Draft Potential Ballot Measure
Expenditure Plan to fund regional long range transportation initiatives in Los Angeles County.
Long Beach has been working closely with elected officials, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments
and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) staff on priorities for inclusion in
the proposed expenditure plan. Priorities reflected in the expenditure plan to be adopted by the Metro Board
of Directors will be critical indicators to Long Beach voters, who are seeking tangible local benefits in
addition to regional transit and transportation benefits in a proposed ballot measure. At this time, Long
Beach is disappointed with the representation of projects affecting the City of Long Beach, Port of Long
Beach and Long Beach Transit.
The draft ballot measure expenditure plan fails to adequately invest in Long Beach. As the second largest
city in Los Angeles County, the City of Long Beach is home to more than half a million people; the Port
of Long Beach alone is poised to be the largest seaport in North America, moving $180 billion worth of
goods each year, and supporting 1.4 million jobs; and Long Beach Transit has more than 28 million
boardings annually, 34 bus routes, a 250-bus fleet, nearly 2,000 bus stops and is committed to zero-emission
technology with the addition of 10 inductive charging, battery-electric buses to its fleet this year. These
are notable achievements that uniquely position Long Beach to influence transportation initiatives in Los
Angeles County, with impacts extending globally. It is imperative that a revenue measure designed to fund
regional transit and transportation projects over a 45-to 50-year time period include both immediate benefits
and long term benefits to the people who visit, live, and work in Long Beach.
The City of Long Beach, Port of Long Beach, and Long Beach Transit urge the Metro Board of Directors
to amend staffs recommendations to reflect an early and consistent investment in Long Beach throughout
the life of any future expenditure plan. We respectfully request:

The Shoemaker Bridge to be named as a specific project in the first 15-years of the tax
measures implementation plan, the entire I-710 South Corridor Project to be move up earlier

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

April 28, 2016
Page 2

into the tax measures implementation, removal of the assumption of a container fee (which
would hurt the regions competitiveness with other U.S. gateway cities), and the provision of
at least 80 percent of planning funding and additional funds for construction of the I-710 project
through new measure revenues.

Commitment to a Blue Line Wardlow Station Grade Separation project. This station has
been identified as the worst transit station in America, with funding for a feasibility study,
environmental, design and engineering, and construction.

Commitment on funding a feasibility study for a Crenshaw Line or Green Line extension
into Long Beach, and future funding for environmental, design and engineering, and
construction; contingent upon conclusions from the feasibility study.

Prioritization of funds for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure along the 7th Street
corridor, as this is a heavily utilized bus transit corridor for Long Beach Transit bus routes.

Obligation of funds for an intermodal transit center in the eastern portion of Long Beach
Transits service area that will increase customer access to transit, facilitate intermodal
transfers and simplify transfers to other regional transit providers.

Allocation of funding for signal synchronization and preemption for public transit throughout
Long Beach to increase transit service speed and efficiency for transit customers.

Provision of funding for the Port of Long Beach Rail Efficiency Improvement Project at
Pier B to expand the use of on-dock rail. This project expediently reduces greenhouse gas
emissions by removing trucks from the regional road and highway network and instead moving
more goods to market by train. This project will yield significant environmental benefits.
Additionally, this project requires both public and private partnership and investment, and as
such, can provide matching funds to the measures sales tax revenues.

Long Beachs priorities, as noted above expand the regions economic activities, creating economic vitality
upon which a sales tax measure depends. We look forward to working with Metro on regional initiatives
to strategically, and effectively improve access to safe and affordable transportation throughout Los
Angeles County. The City of Long Beach, Port of Long Beach, and Long Beach Transit appreciate your
leadership and welcome the opportunity to host you and your staff on a tour of any or all of Long Beachs
transportation and goods movement projects.
For more information, please contact Diana Tang, Manager of Government Affairs to the City of Long
Beach at 562-570-6506 or diana.tang@longbeach.gov.

Sincerely,

Mayor Robert Garcia

City of Long Beach

Jon W. Slangerup
Chief Executive Officer, Port of Long Beach