Mass transit funding conference set for Jan. 10

We pretty much all want the subway to be extended all the way to the beach, but we're having a hard time finding money to build it. Now, a daylong conference -- dubbed "It's Time to Move L.A.!" -- is scheduled tomorrow, specifically to discuss "Los Angeles County's transportation funding challenge." (via blogging.la)

It's described as "a business, labor, health, environmental, and community conference to discuss strategies to finance a modern transportation system in L.A. County," and it brings together some amazing speakers, including Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board; Metro board members Pam O'Connor and Richard Katz; and Donald Shoup, a UCLA professor of urban planning who often writes about parking issues in L.A.

When: Thursday, Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: The Center at Cathedral Plaza, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles
Cost: $25 registration fee, which includes admission, breakfast, lunch and conference materials. Scholarships are available upon request. You can pay by cash at the door, but RSVP by e-mail to TransportFundLA@aol.com.

The conference is put together by the Los Angeles County Transportation Collaborative; Denny Zane, Executive Director of the Subway to the Sea Coalition and former mayor of Santa Monica, seems to be the main guy behind the event. Some of the topics and ideas on the agenda:

• A state constitutional amendment permitting voter approval of transportation funding with 55% of the vote
• Ensuring state sales taxes on gasoline go to transportation purposes
• A state or county gas tax increase
• County voter-approved taxes, such as sales or parcel taxes
• City voter-approved taxes, such as sales or parcel taxes
• Public-private partnerships
• County- or city-based congestion pricing
• Assessment districts
• Transit-oriented tax-increment districts
• A driver’s license fee increase
• Motor vehicle registration fees in L.A. County, e.g., based on vehicle weight, miles driven, estimated mileage and emissions, or a simple flat rate
• Climate Impact Fees or carbon taxes
• Monetized carbon credits
• County transportation bonds
• Parking fees or surcharges
• Traffic or parking fine surcharges
• Developer mitigation fees for transit, perhaps in lieu of parking

For more info, call (310) 582-0093 or e-mail TransportFundLA@aol.com.