He hasn’t been in office for very long, but already Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Phillip Washington is rolling out ambitious plans for the future of transportation in Los Angeles.
At a March 24th board meeting, Washington unveiled a $120 billion plan that would involve putting a measure on the November ballot that would increase the countywide sales tax by a half cent and keep an already existing tax in existence for 18 more years. Metro says the revenue from this would help fund a smattering of public transit and highway projects that would be built over the next 40 years. There would also be billions spent on improving and expanding pedestrian and bike paths across the city.
Within the first 15 years, projects slated for completion would include a rail tunnel through the Sepulveda Pass, new rail routes through Van Nuys, Westwood, Artesia, and Claremont, and creating toll lanes out of carpool lanes on the 105 and 405 freeways. You can see a full list
However, they’ll need broad support from virtually every corner of the county if they hope to get the two-thirds threshold needed to pass the measure.
Guest:
Phillip A. Washington, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)
Lindsey Horvath, Mayor of West Hollywood