Morning update on Measure R and Proposition 1A

As of 7:30 a.m.:

With 100% of the precincts reporting, Measure R appears to have been approved by Los Angeles County voters. That's a half-cent sales tax increase for the next 30 years to pay for more mass transit and road improvements.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other elected officials have scheduled a victory lap -- i.e. a news conference -- at 9:45 a.m. at the corner of Wilshire and Veteran in Westwood. If I leave Pasadena by 8 a.m., I'm hoping I'll make it, provided the traffic gods are smiling kindly on me this morning.

Here's a link to the Measure R story The Times posted on its website this morning.

And with more than 95% of precincts reporting, the "yes" vote for Proposition 1A was leading.

More later today.

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[forgotten citizen]

Dana Gabbard

I don't speak for you. I don't understand. As a person who has taken public ransit for past 21 years. As a person who has walked countless miles. As a person who has wait the train to stuck in the middle of nowhere jsust to miss 2 bus that run once an hour. As a person who missed interview so many times because buses . As a erson who almost missed final. As a person who has given interview because there is no bus within 5 mile walking distance. I DON'T OWN CAR. I AM VISUAL IMPAIR. I AM NOT CHOICE RIDER.
Believe me or not, i am not a member of BRU. I tried to join but I decided not to. I am not associating my name with any group unless I know what it is going on. I am not opposing rail. I think expo is very important. I don't like BRU sentiment thatusing racial card and its anti rail.
Measure R is passed. People have decided by demoncratic process.
The reason i vote no is very simple, a 30 grand year project with limit progress. I don't expect LA to turn into NY in 30 years, but I do expect LA to tunr into DC like 1990 in 30 years.
What is on measure R is very clear. I am not asking not to raise tax. I ask that it to be better.
the buses cannot go anywhere. If you are true bus riders, you should know how difficult it is to travel on public transit. I am not even talking about reachablity to everywhere. I am talking about great access to all comercial area within 30 years. What give you the right to YELL SUCH LOUD VOICE. I have heard that bus riders want to get rich so they can drive and get out nightmare
West LA is a huge area. Everyone knows many people work there. You told me after expo is built and additional bus service (from that 20%), howmuch it s going to improve. Don't tell me buses cannot go everywhere in WLA. I was there for 2 years. I know people work there. I know my friend is still looking for convenient way to go from Mar vista to Tiorrance. I am checking.
Problem with this measure is it stressed too much on rail because many people prefer rail. I like rail. I was in DC. it is good. The problem is how to get to rail from home or work. I have stressed so much about that. In Bethseda (an affluent area), my aunt told me that bus was not good. However, i was so surprised @ 9:15 PM, that many people were able to take buses after geting out rail (of course, how they are going to go after those connecting buses remain big unknown). Those buses run frequently iat night and during the weekend. In reston and rosylyn. it is even better. I don't forsee that in LA in 30 years. I don't even forsee in WLA in 30 years.
the whole reason I wrote the message is also stress the importance of bus services. There is always misunderstanding this will solve problem.
I do appreciate Jeremy, Spokker and Dan W appreciation and understand my anger. I also appreciate their additional comments. I appreciate Dan's aggrement that rail and bus must coexist to improve public transit. i keep my eyes on every step measure R.
For your information. I am lucky i am a programmer that i have better life. If bus cannot take me, i can relocate to other location. I know many bus riders don't have that options. I do mean imrpovement of public transporation and that includes rail
In the mean time, i have to go. I got to walk an hour and cross 2 rail raods since you said buses cannot go anywhere.. Try to tell that one to every no choice bus riders and see what they think

[Dana Gabbard]

Forgotten Citizen, have you ever attended a BRU meeting? The one I went to circa 1994 convinced me it is centralized/controlled by the Eric Mann and the members are just puppets to engage in state-managed endless protests, etc. with little say while Mann pays himself a six figure salary. At one point Mann and the BRU true believer core even issued a letter attacking some of their own members for at BRU meetings expressing support for rail. And of course they refused to let me join (which I wanted to do simply so I could be on the mailing list and receive their latest propaganda) because I am not in lock-step with Mr. Mann’s edicts as to transportation: http://transit-insider.org/master.html?http://transit-insider.org/bru/index.htm

Long posts full of agitprop that come out of nowhere and full of venom achieve little and especially when you deal with political processes like transportation funding/planning are ineffective.

I have no car. I ride the bus every day. You don't speak for me. Do you expect solutions for every trip everywhere? There are limits. This measure provides the means to start addressing at least some of the needs. As I famously said early on, 100% of zero equal zero. Thankfully zero is not what we will end up with.

Go forth with your mighty crusade. Meanwhile some of us will start work on the next steps after the passage of R and 1A. Actual political activism is hard work, with little glory involved.

[Spokker]

I take the bus in Orange County of all places. OCTA. Don't think I don't care about buses and bus riders.

[Jeremy R]

Forgotten citizen. No one thinks JUST rail or JUST bus can serve LA. Most of us realize it needs BOTH. The BRU has staunchly opposed 100% of rail in LA county. For rail advocates (Rail riders union, RRU) to be as bad as the BRU, we would have to advocate that ALL buses be removed and that NO funding go towards buses.

Show me ONE rail rider that feels that not a single bus should exist? You will not find one.

I only know of 8 BRU members that hijacked a rail meeting, and 100% of them said that ALL rail was a mistake and should be discontinued. 100% of them said that not a single penny should be invested in rail. They didn't just hate on the subway through the rich communities. They fought LIGHT rail through POOR communities, light rail through middle class areas, and everywhere else.
That is why transit advocates don't like the BRU.

[Dan W.]

I want to add that Forgotten Citizen is right about the need for improved bus service. The choice was NEVER bus versus rail. All cities will world class rail have comprehensive bus systems.

While I completely disagree with the BRU's hostility to rail, I will join with him and with anyone who wishes to continue to improve bus service.

As someone who has lived in London and New York, having a strong bus system is essential even when there is world class rail.

Even if we disagree about Measure R, let us continue to work to improve bus service.

[Dan W.]

The BRU is utterly misguided on Measure R.

It contains billions for bus improvements. The BRU members wear these yellow shirts at Metro meetings that say "billions for buses", yet they hypocritically campaigned against Measure R. Thank goodness they failed.

The great silent majority of bus riders will be thrilled with the improved bus AND rail improvements that Measure R will bring.

The BRU should be thanking their lucky stars. Measure R was the only way on offer they were going to get the buses they were seeking. The BRU will now get the billions for buses and the improved bus service they were seeking despite themselves and their misguided campaign against Measure R.

The great silent majority of transit riders like myself will not longer allow the BRU to claim to speak for us or for all bus riders. As a transit-dependent bus rider I will cheer loudly for Measure R's passage and I will continue to speak up for those of us who are bus riders who know we need improved bus AND rail service.

For people who support a bus AND rail system and not a 40ft bus-only system, and are seeking a constructive alternative to the BRU, I recommend Southern California Transit Advocates and The Transit Coalition.

[Spokker]

"I am a civiliazed man, but it really degrade your when you even attempt to say that "In your faaace, BRU! Now crawl back to where you came from!" "

forgotten citizen, you are probably a very nice guy, well-meaning, and live a good life. The individuals of the BRU are probably nice people as well and just want the best for Los Angeles.

But as a group, I agree whole-heartedly with the statement, "In your face, BRU!"

That is just my honest reaction. I believe a lot of transit advocates have been fed up with their antics for a while and today is a great day for those of us that dislike the BRU.

[Carter]

Steve!

A million thanks for your diligent coverage of all these transportation measures.

Keep up the good work.

Brace for the legal battles.

:/

[forgotten citizen]

g.

I am a civiliazed man, but it really degrade your when you even attempt to say that "In your faaace, BRU! Now crawl back to where you came from!" . I don't knwo if you are true transit rider or choice rider. if you are a choice rider, you have no right to say that. Please prove that you are a true rider.

Life goes on even measure R passes. Don't argue with me about 20% bus and freezing bus fare.it is a good compromise to freeze the faree, but what we lose is more, mass improvement of over all trasnit structure in LA. I never had the chance to talk to bus rider about this measure, but many bus riders are indifference about the future. I remember persuading a lady to call foothilltransit to lobby not to stop operation in metrolink. Her response was does not make difference.
For people think rail is good because bus stop every block. For you next important trip (job interview, working, final, dr appt, etc) and destination is not within 20 min walking distance of expo station, please park your car at future expo station (don't argue with me about parking. I am tired hearing that. in my face, bus riders, we don't have that kind lux), and see how easy it is.
For the people who think it is rocket scientist that bus is better, see above
for people who think rail will improve public transit in next 50 years, see item #1
for people who refuse to take bus because rail is better, see item #1
for people who believe the funding for the bus will be good enough, see item #1

My coworker talked to me abt elction this morning. Knowing me as a true bus rider, she did not want to say what she vote. I told her I voted no. she said she voted no (she know a lot people who are true bus riders). she believe it did not help. Rail only stops certain place, and there is only one rail in big WLA.
Don't criticize SGV people (politician, yes they deserved to be shout). Just cme to live in any SGV, and try to take bus to catch future expo
for pasadena voter Steve interviewed
1) I'd like to know how this project will speed up the commute to south gate from Pasadena.
2) this will not make Sf in next 30 years
3) Some people got to find out why there are so many empty seats on gold line. lack of bus connections. This will not happen in Expo. Still, lack bus connection will prevent many people from taking rail.

This is the first i attempt to fight for bus riders. I came little bit late. I wish i could particpate in the measure R design. It is too late. It is locked for 30 years. It is small step very small in 30 years. Any future improvement require another ballot and tax hike.
Don't tell me it identifies source for the future funding. I went throught A and C. A and C because they did not last 30 years. They give hope that every 5 or 10 years, something will be better even though nothing is better

For choice riders and rail propoent, plesase put your foot in our shoes, and think how tough it is for us to get anywhere. Better bus connections benefit choice riders. without good bus connections, it makes you difficult even in WLA. For god sake, even after expo is build , can choice riders take buses (the ones that run every 10 min) if there is no expo station. Otherwise, ppl are going to say expo does not mean anything
should I continue to fight, or should i move out of LA. After this measure is passed, i don't see the lights at the end of tunnel? However, there are many of us who will suffer

In your face, don't insult us

[Brigham Yen]

I was literally shaking when I saw the numbers and realized that my dream of LA having a world-class subway system, a subway down Wilshire Blvd. connecting all of what makes L.A. - L.A., is one step closer to becoming reality!

I too want to say "In your faaace BRU, Antonovich, and Molina!"

Let LA become a real city!

[John von Kerczek]

Wonderful news! Like Dana said, there is a lot of work ahead, but at least we are moving in the right direction.

[Ken Alpern]

It looks like Eastside and SGV voters had a different opinion than their so-called "leaders".

[Dana Gabbard]

M asked "When is this new tax actually supposed to go into effect?"

Well, for what it is worth here is the language of the actual ordinance:

http://www.lavote.net/VOTER/PDFS/ELECTION_RELATED/11042008_MEASURE_R.pdf

Metro hereby imposes, in the incorporated and unincorporated territory of Los Angeles County, a Sales Tax at the rate of one-half of one percent (.5%) for a period of thirty (30) years beginning on the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing not less than 180 days after the adoption of this Ordinance by the voters.

[g.]

Part of me wants to holler "In your faaace, BRU! Now crawl back to where you came from!" But I am a civilized man....

[Irwin]

YES!

Reason and logic prevailed over scapegoating and ethnic politics from petty and irrelevant SGV politicians.

[M]

When is this new tax actually supposed to go into effect?

[Craptacular]

Why even write this article?

"Measure R projects won't get rolling soon
New rail lines are likely several years away under plan."

REALLY? I thought that today I'd be able to take the subway to the beach. What else needs to happen???

[Dan W.]

I am so completely thrilled by Measure R and Prop. 1a passing.

California and Los Angeles County in particular has taken a major leap forward in investing in a economically and environmentally sustainable future.

[Dana Gabbard]

14 years of transit advocacy has culminated in this moment. When I heard the results on the radio I couldn't help giving out a shout of joy. We have seized the future-there is so much yet to do, and struggles ahead. But thanks to the voters we now have a chance to fulfill the vision of having regional mass transit as a viable option plus eventually a high speed link of the key population centers of the state. My thanks to all the proponents, especially Michael Feuer and Mayor Villaraigosa. And I hope the politicians who preached parochialism as a platform to justify their selfish opposition will take the lesson that a new day has dawned and whining is no longer an avenue of viable political discourse. What a time of miracles we are witness to!

[johnny]

Yaaay! Obama and measure R both made it! Now it's fingers crossed for 1A to pass, and 8 to fail...