Potential ballot measure would go before voters this November and deliver more than $120 billion in new transportation investments

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County today moved a step closer to completing a world-class, comprehensive transit system — following a decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board to approve a sales tax measure for the November ballot that would fund $120 billion in critical rail and road projects.

In a 11-2 vote, the MTA board approved the “Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan,” a bold measure that would provide the region with more than $120 billion in funding for new rail and bus lines, including a new subway line from the San Fernando Valley to LAX, and new extensions connecting communities throughout the region — from Claremont to Culver City and San Fernando to the South Bay.

The measure includes a “no sunset” provision — which, if approved by voters this fall, would provide ongoing funding to help accelerate projects, while supporting operation and maintenance of the region’s fast-growing rail network.

“We are on the move — and it’s time we stop letting traffic hold us back,” said Los Angeles Mayor and MTA Board Second Vice Chair Eric Garcetti. “This bold transportation plan will relieve our congested roads, connecting our region with the robust, comprehensive transportation system we need and deserve. It also adds thousands of local jobs and the constant stream of funding we need to keep our system running smoothly for generations to come."

Today, Angelenos lose an estimated average of 80 hours a year stuck in gridlock — frustrating commuters, keeping friends and family from connecting with each other, making parents late for soccer games and school plays, hampering the economy, and polluting our air.

In the car capital of the world, MTA provides more than 1.4 million rides per day on bus and rail lines. This new funding plan would build on that foundation — by knitting together existing lines with new rail projects and freeway improvements, and weaving a comprehensive public transportation system that would give Angelenos many more options for getting around. When complete, the proposed expansion would dramatically strengthen public transit across Los Angeles County.

Key projects in the City of Los Angeles include:

Accelerated & New Transit Projects

Airport 96th Station Connection to LAX/Green Line

Westside Subway Purple Line Extension to UCLA (underground heavy rail)

East San Fernando Valley Van Nuys Line (light rail)

Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor (underground heavy rail)

Gold Line Foothill Extension to Claremont/San Bernardino County Line (light rail)

West Santa Ana Transit Corridor (light rail)

Green Line extension to Torrance (light rail)

Crenshaw Northern Extension (light rail)

Gold Line Eastside Extension to South El Monte & Whittier (two legs, light rail)

Lincoln Boulevard Express Bus (bus rapid transit)

San Fernando Valley Transportation Improvements

Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor to LAX (heavy rail)

Green Line Extension to Norwalk/Metrolink station

Orange Line Conversion to Light Rail

Orange Line speed & safety improvements

Express Bus from Orange Line to Gold Line (bus rapid transit)

Vermont Boulevard Transit Corridor (bus rapid transit or heavy rail)

New Highway Projects

I-5 North County Freeway Enhancements (SR-14 to Lake Hughes Road)

I-710 South Corridor Project (Long Beach to Commerce)

SR-71 Freeway improvements (I-10 to Rio Rancho Road)

SR-57/SR-60 Interchange improvements

I-105 ExpressLane (I-405 to I-605)

I-5 Corridor improvements (I-605 to I-710)

I-405/I-110 Express Lanes to South Bay/Interchange Improvements

I-405 South Bay Curve Freeway Improvements

I-605 interchange improvements (SR-91, SR-5, SR-60)

The measure will also provide key funding for street re-paving and pothole-filling across L.A.’s County’s 88 cities. It would create thousands of local jobs, pay for critical earthquake retrofitting and invest in much-needed freeway projects. It would also preserve affordable fares for seniors, low-income riders and students, and includes the strongest oversight of any MTA measure to date — ensuring that every taxpayer dollar is protected and well spent.

Today’s board vote culminates a two-year process, led by Mayor Garcetti when he served as MTA Board Chair, that has included dozens of public meetings and unprecedented input from local stakeholders, community members and transportation experts. The process was guided by a data-driven approach to finalizing the current project list.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote in August to place the measure on the November ballot.

About Metro

Metro is a multimodal transportation agency that is really three companies in one: a major operator that transports about 1.5 million boarding passengers on an average weekday on a fleet of 2,000 clean air buses and six rail lines, a major construction agency that oversees many bus, rail, highway and other mobility related building projects, and it is the lead transportation planning and programming agency for Los Angeles County. Overseeing one of the largest public works programs in America, Metro is changing the urban landscape of the Los Angeles region. Dozens of transit, highway and other mobility projects largely funded by Measure R are under construction or in the planning stages. These include five new rail lines, the I-5 widening and other major projects.