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Post by LAofAnaheim on Mar 30, 2007 16:17:41 GMT -8
More and more it sounds like Arnold is heavily influenced by the automaker lobby. Read what Arnold's plans are for the spillover funds. In the future, cities will rely on this funding for highway repairs, today we have a chance to keep these funds available for public transit. www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/03/california_tran.html
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D
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by D on Mar 30, 2007 18:34:17 GMT -8
this is very sad news. Why do people stand for all these cuts to public transit. We need more damn it, not less. Why is it so easy to fund 1 billion for a single carpool lane on the 405 that will do nothing in 3 months, or a BS Tunnel costing 10 billion, but we cant build a Downtown Connector or the Wilshire Subway cause its too expensive? We (i mean the general Populace, not us) have a very distorted view on this issue. Very aggrivating
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Post by roadtrainer on Apr 10, 2007 18:10:33 GMT -8
Good old Arnooolllddd! I thought we got rid of Grey Davis and a better man who do a better job . but he has bummed out this Republician for the last time!! I will not support him anymore if he gives our Transit Dollars away to the Greedy school districts! We voted for Better Transit---MORE BUSES, MORE TRAINS, DIAL-A-RIDES AND STREET REPAIRS! AND HE WANTS TO GIVE ALL OF IT TO THE GREEDY SCHOOL DISTRICTS!!! WAY TO GO ASH HOLE!
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Post by kenalpern on May 26, 2007 5:46:19 GMT -8
From transit advocate Assemblymember Ted Lieu, a leading voice for regional rail and transportation projects, including the Green Line/LAX connection:
Daily Breeze--Friday, May 25, 2007 Originally published Thursday, May 24, 2007 Updated Thursday, May 24, 2007 Put the brakes on transit cuts Governor's plan is like a family making extra mortgage payments while skipping payment of their utility bills. By Ted W. Lieu
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger just released his May revision of the state budget. Like any large proposal, it is neither all good nor all bad.
I appreciate that the governor supports full funding of public education under Proposition 98, although I believe we should give school districts more local control over that money. I also support the governor's proposals to combat the increasing scourge of gang violence in our state and to improve school safety.
So that's the good news; now here's the bad: The governor's budget punishes low- and middle-income families who are working hard and playing by the rules - and it cuts funding to many of those who can least afford it, including underprivileged children, those with disabilities and senior citizens.
Of great concern to all of us is the drastic cut to transportation funding, which will directly lead to increased traffic. The governor's "balanced budget" relies on stealing $1.3 billion of money from the public transit "spillover account." This is an account that takes money from existing gas tax revenue and invests it in public transit projects, including bus lines and light rail.
The proposed raid on transportation funding disproportionately affects Los Angeles County. The Metropolitan Transit Authority stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in transit funds. That is unacceptable.
Cutting public transit programs and infrastructure will certainly lead to the following harmful consequences:
First, reducing public transit operations will increase traffic. Every day, Californians sit in some of the worst traffic in the world. It frustrates us, pollutes our air and robs us of time with our families. We must continue to invest in mass transit so we can find new ways to move people from point A to point B without an automobile.
Second, one of the reasons gas prices are unconscionably high is the ever-increasing demand for gasoline. Californians are driving more than ever, and due to the unstable situation in the Middle East and severe weather in the Gulf Coast, some predictions are that gas could increase to more than $4 this summer. If even a portion of our drivers could be moved out of their cars and into mass transit, then we could start reducing our dependence on foreign oil and bring gas prices back under control.
Third, cutting mass transit hurts our natural environment. The governor has literally traveled the world talking about California's work to reduce the carbon emissions that cause global warming. I find it inconsistent that the centerpiece of his budget is a cut that will force more Californians into their cars.
The money the governor proposes to take from public transit comes from two "pots" - one for new buses and rail lines and one for maintenance of existing assets. At the very least, we should restore the maintenance half of this money so that we don't move backward.
There is a better way to finance and balance this budget. The governor proposes that California should make extra payments of $1.6 billion to pay off the Economic Recovery Bonds that were passed in 2004. While that is a laudable goal, I liken it to a family making an extra mortgage payment when they can't pay their gas bill. The $1.6 billion in extra payments that the governor proposes could, instead, be used to restore the cut to public transit funding and make other critical investments in California's future.
Now that the governor has made his budget proposal, the long, hard work of the Legislature begins. Over the next month, we will be dissecting the budget and looking for ways to arrive at a balanced and fair plan. I look forward to working with the Legislature and the administration on ways to restore public transit funding, and to make this budget one that is fair to all Californians. Ted W. Lieu, D-Torrance, represents the 53rd Assembly District. He chairs the Banking and Finance Committee and is a member of the Appropriations Committee.
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Post by nickv on Jan 10, 2008 18:21:07 GMT -8
Statement by Metro CEO Roger Snoble Regarding Governor’s Proposed BudgetThursday, January 10, 2008 We appreciate that the Governor’s initial budget recommendation appears to maintain transportation funding which could be encouraging news for Los Angeles County. We recognize that this is an extraordinarily challenging budget deficit. Metro understands the magnitude of the challenge in Sacramento and stands ready to work with our partners in the Legislature and Administration in the coming months to ensure that California maintains a long-term stable funding program for transportation. Source: Metro
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