Ready for a Green Line that doesn't go from nowhere to nowhere? A Crenshaw Line through West Hollywood? That's what Move LA, the transit lobbying group headed by former Santa Monica Mayor Denny Zane, advocates for in their "strawman" proposal for Measure R2, a sequel to Measure R's half-cent sales tax increase that would last 45 years and produce about $90 billion for transit projects (not to be confused with Measure J, an extension of the original Measure R that narrowly failed in 2012). Metro is considering an R2 (most likely for the 2016 ballot), but this is just a draft Move LA put together "to generate discussion," according to Streetsblog; that said, many of these projects are already on Metro's wishlist and the proposal is pretty realistic.
Unlike 2008's Measure R, which is funding the Purple Line subway extension, Crenshaw Line light rail, and a bunch of other projects, Move LA's R2 would devote four percent of proceeds, more than $3.5 billion, to "active transportation," like bike and pedestrian improvements. Measure R provided no specific money for those things, although many cities used their local tax returns to improve access for bikes and walking.
Another exciting thing about Move LA's proposal is that it devotes billions toward a Grand Boulevards program that would put money toward street surfacing, signal synching, landscaping, bike and ped features, improved bus stops and bus lanes, and incentives for mixed-use developments. (Mayor Garcetti has already launched a similar-sounding program.)
And the real red meat, Move LA's ideas for which rail projects should be funded under R2:
· The LAX connector from the Crenshaw Line to the airport (Los Angeles World Airports, the owner of LAX, will likely chip in for this).
· The Gold Line to San Bernardino, which includes a station in Montclair and likely one at Ontario Airport.
· A speedier expansion of the Eastside Gold Line into either El Monte or Whittier.
· An extension of the Crenshaw Line to Wilshire Boulevard (connection to Purple Line) and then up to the Hollywood/Highland Red Line station, likely through parts of West Hollywood.
· A Sepulveda Pass connection from Sylmar to LAX that would include a super-tunnel carrying trains, buses, and cars.
· A light rail from DTLA to Santa Ana.
· A push for the Purple Line's planned terminus from the VA hospital in Westwood to Santa Monica.
· Completion of the Green Line extension to Torrance and possibly to Long Beach; an extension to connect to the Santa Fe Springs Metrolink station (that's a no-brainer).
· Converting the Orange Line to rail.
Other money would be directed to modernizing Metrolink, ensuring clean freight, transit, and freeways, and providing operating funds for all this infrastructure.
· Move L.A.'s Measure R2 Draft Proposal, Including Their Rail Fantasy Map [Streetsblog]
· Measure R2 Strawman Proposal [Move LA]
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