By Ron Thaniel
March 22, 2010

Conference of Mayors Vice President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, appearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on March 11, called for "true federal-local partnership" and significant funding in the next federal surface transportation authorization to accelerate transit projects.

Villaraigosa told members of the committee tasked with writing key sections of the surface transportation bill that, "Public transit plays a vital role in cities, relieving traffic congestion, improving air quality, and providing lifeline service to the transit dependent so that they have access to full range of opportunities they need to prosper, from jobs and shopping to medical services, education, and recreation."

Villaraigosa said, "Los Angeles needs a greatly expanded rail system to remain competitive in the 21st century and if we are to grow into a truly sustainable metropolis made up of livable communities."

"We are investing heavily in transit, retrofitting our city and region with new systems that provide clean, reliable alternatives to driving," said Villaraigosa. "At the same time, we are working to create sustainable communities around our rail stations, neighborhoods where walking, cycling, and transit can connect people to places they want to go and the people they want to see." Between 2005 and 2009 over 40 percent of new construction in Los Angeles has occurred near rail stations.

Last year, the MTA Board of Directors on which Villaraigosa serves as a member, adopted a new Long Range Transportation Plan that serves as the blue print for transportation investments over the next 30 years. "We will be able to expand our rail system dramatically, building 12 new rail and bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and adding an estimated 78 miles of new service," said Villaraigosa. The Long Range Transportation Plan is possible because in 2008 Los Angeles voters said "yes" to cleaner air, jobs, and livable communities and supported what is known as Measure R, a 30-year half cent sales tax dedicated to transportation investments. It will generate an estimated $40 billion in revenue over the next 30 years and is a multi-modal funding source, dedicating 20 percent of revenue for highway improvements. "But the majority (65 percent) of funding is dedicated to transit capital projects and transit operations," said Villaraigosa. "And the construction of Measure R projects will create thousands of new, high quality jobs."

"Unfortunately, 30 years is too long to wait if we can find a way to build these projects faster," said Villaraigosa. "Our ‘30/10’ initiative is a proposal to accelerate construction of 12 new mass transit lines and build these projects over the next decade." To bridge the funding gap of up to $8.8 billion, Villaraigosa is working to develop a funding plan focusing on two current federal programs – the Build America Bonds (BABs) and The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 (TIFIA). He is also looking at a yet to be created national infrastructure bank which the Conference of Mayors strongly supports.

Benefits of the 30/10 initiative include 166,000 construction jobs, and at least 2,800 permanent operations and maintenance jobs; the elimination of more than 500,000 pounds of emissions; saving 10.3 million gallons of gasoline per year; and expanding transit boardings by 77 million per year while reducing by 208 million the vehicle miles traveled in Los Angeles County.

"We believe that there is a compelling local and national interest in getting the jobs and environmental benefits of our transit program as quickly as possible," said Villaraigosa. "But the federal government can and should do more, especially for cities and regions that are coming to the table with money in hand to create a true federal-local partnership."

Committee Chairman Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) said she supports "the 30/10 initiative and look forward to working with the mayor, my colleagues here in the Senate, and the U.S. Department of Transportation to find ways to help not only Los Angeles, but also communities across this nation, use federal assistance to accelerate transportation benefits."