Who Does Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New Funding Plan Leave Out?

If the Metro Board passes the proposed $40 billion expenditure plan, millions of Los Angeles residents will still not have access to good public transit for decades.

2 minute read

June 25, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By rzelen @rzelen


Los Angeles Metro

trekandshoot / Shutterstock

On June 23rd, the full Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board will consider placing a new ballot measure, commonly referred to as "Measure R2" on the November 2016 ballot. Metro CEO Phil Washington recently announced that Measure R2 would be a permanent, non-expiring sales tax extension and increase. By becoming a permanent fixture, Measure R2 will govern transportation infrastructure development for the County for at least 50 years, and will raise at least $120 billion.

The expenditure plan proposed by Metro is robust and atones for many of Los Angeles’ previous public transportation sins, such as putting transportation through the Sepulveda Pass, one of the worst stretches of congestion in the country.    

However, the expenditure plan does not include bringing new projects to areas in critical need of a public transportation hub, such as California State University, Northridge (CSUN). CSUN is the second largest public university in Los Angeles, with over 40,000 students and 10,000 faculty and staff, who require over 200,000 weekly trips to campus. Currently, there is no plan to bring a direct rapid transit system to CSUN.

Leaders in the San Fernando Valley, including State Senator Robert Hertzberg, have organized "It’s Our Turn" to ensure that the one million Valley residents get a fair share of promised infrastructure investment in transit. As Sen. Hertzberg elaborates: 

“Last time, with Measure R, lots of things that were promised to the Valley didn’t end up happening—with the justifications that Metro ran out of money or had to change the order of projects. We wanted to make sure that there was no possibility of that kind of bait-and-switch in Measure R2.”

Read more about the upcoming Metro board hearing and hear more perspectives from other State Senators Tony Mendoza and Jim Beall, as well as San Fernando Valley leader Richard Close

Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

4 seconds ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

1 hour ago - Cities Today

View from inside car's driver seat while driving.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians

Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA