Posted on 07/31/2010 12:33:57 PM PDT by Willie Green
LOS ANGELES — The region famous for jilting the street car to take up a love affair with the automobile is trying to rekindle its long ago romance with commuter rail.
If successful, the novel plan to borrow billions from the federal government, led by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, would result in the largest transit expansion project in the nation.
Los Angeles County voters agreed two years ago to pay a half-cent sales tax over the next 30 years to extend train and rapid bus lines, projects that would routinely require federal assistance.
But the mayor, who sits on a county transportation board, wants a loan instead of Washington handouts to get the projects built in a decade rather than 30 years. He contends it would save money in the long run, result in more construction jobs and less traffic and pollution.
If the approach works, it could set a precedent for cities and states across the country considering major rail and road improvements.
"We can't wait because traffic is unbelievable and the environmental problem is too severe," said Denny Zane, who is building a coalition of business, labor and environmental groups pushing for the plan. "The need for jobs and economic development is also very severe."
~~~SNIP~~~
But with federal and state transportation funds dwindling due to a reduction in gas tax revenue, experts say the time is right to test innovative ideas in transportation financing.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
It almost was, once...
Willie,
You could build lots more rail lines and other infrastructure without the street tax for labor cartels.
“Mass transit” is the best way to control and transport sheep and cattle. The Nazis used a lot of mass transit during WWII to move people around.
My husband works for our local human cattle car authority.
We don’t use it.
Gee, I wonder why?
Americans like us have this thing for FREEDOM!
Aren't the state and city running huge deficits and in deep financial trouble? Who in their right mind would loan them any money? Guess it's a good thing he'll be asking Washington politicians for the loan. Don't think they've ever been accused of using common sense with money, especially other people's money (ours).
Billions and billions of *my* hard earned money spent to ensure that Pedro,Mexican ID card in hand,can get from the welfare office to the food stamp office and back again.
FAIL
What, they can’t wait to export all their illegals across the country via high speed rail?
#$%^ing "novel!?" What else but looting other peoples money, and calling it borrowing, have commie-racist politicians ever used as their method of government?
His earlier years, both in Cuba working for the Revolution (Venceremos Brigade) and here in the US leading the fight for his racist Aztlan fantasy (MECha) - has equipped Villaraigosa for nothing else.
Of course, I spent my time staring at the graffiti tagging because it was less depressing than looking out the window at the houses in Compton that are covered with bars, streets with vomit on them, and hookers on every corner.
Unfortunately, I couldn't even enjoy a cup of coffee any time I got on the train. Illegal. They were worried that I might spill it and mess up the train interior. But apparently switchblades to slice the seats up, big fat markers and spray paint are all allowed.
The aroma of homeless piss was always a nice touch as well.
I really enjoyed riding the metro to the airport. It took two and a half hours to get there, when it could have taken me 30 minutes to drive. Oh, and I forgot to mention... the train doesn't actually GO to the airport. Imagine.... spending MILLIONS on a public transportation line that doesn't actually go to the ONE place where everyone would actually be willing to go out of their way to ride public transportation to. No, you have to get off the rail and wait 40 minutes for an airport bus. Apparently, constructing rails for the train to go to the airport would be INCONVENIENT.
One would hope that these other cities and counties will wait to see just what the total cost is, the delays, the non-ridership levels, the crime increases (street people, gangsters and etc seem to like transit stations) before they rip up their communities.
Also, I don't think that Mister Villaraigosa is especially smart; however, he surely knows that the confiscation project would not..."save money in the long run..."
(Meaning that he's lying.)
.
routinely require federal assistance = taxpayer assistance from other states.
LA can build multi level loop de loop rail lines and bus lines from all points to all other points...................just do it on their dime.
No way in hell, I should pay for LA boondoggles.
I'm sure I'm already paying for some lib asinine projects out there
What street tax are you speaking of?
The Nazis also ate bread. Do you eat bread?
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