02-04-1997 - Letter from Supervisor Antonovich Regarding Diversion of Funds to Metro Red LineCity of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: City Manager and City Council
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FROM: Steven W. Wylie, Assistant City Manager
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SUBJECT: LETTER FROM SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH
AGENDA
ITEM NO. 1
DATE Feb_ LK 1997
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® PRINTED ON" RECYCLED PAPER
REGARDING DIVERSION OF FUNDS TO METRO RED LINE
SUBJECT: Councilmember Herfert has requested a discussion on the diversion of $300
million in funding previously committed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
the construction of carpool lanes to completion of the Red Line subway project.
BACKGRO
UND
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On January 10, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (on a motion by Los Angeles Mayor Riordan) voted to
reallocate $300 million previously committed to the construction of High Occupancy
Vehicle (carpool)' lanes to the completion of the Red Line subway project. This action
was taken in response to the potential loss of federal funding for the subway project as a
result of cost overruns and project delays which threaten the timely completion of the
project. It is partlof a "recovery plan" mandated by the federal Department of
Transportation for the MTA and the Red Line project, which also includes a number" of
administrative reforms at the MTA, and a 5% reduction of the MTA budget.
The reallocation of HOV project funds was taken in light of a Consent Decree entered
into by the MTA 1 in which the Board has committed to maintenance and improvement of
the conventional bus fleet as the "primary" service of the MTA. This Consent Decree
was the culmination of litigation by an organization of bus riders who brought suit
against the MTA�regarding the proportional commitment of funds to rail projects
(primarily the Revd Line) at the expense of bus service. The Consent Decree requires the
MTA, among other things, to acquire 152 new buses and upgrade the fleet of existing
aging buses.
Caught between these two competing priorities, the MTA Board has chosen to transfer
$300 million from the HOV project to the Red Line. As of this writing, staff has not
verified the specific impact of this transfer on the ultimate extension of HOV lanes on the
I-10 freeway through West Covina.
On January 17, 11997, Supervisor Michael Antonovich wrote to elected officials in the
Fifth Supervisorial District objecting to the MTA's continued commitment to the Red
Line subway project, and specifically the diversion of the HOV funds to the subway. His
principal thrust is that there is a disproportionate allocation of Countywide tax dollars to
the subway project, which benefits a proportionally smaller segment of the region.
At the present time, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments has taken up this
issue, and will be working to assure that the San Gabriel Valley maintains its justifiable
share of regional transportation funds. Their approach will be to work toward an increase
in the allocation and dedication of funds to Valley projects, rather than to wade into° the
political fray in Los Angeles over the subway.
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RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council cooperate with the
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to maintain and guarantee the Valley's share
of regional transportation funds.
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Steven W. Wy1,
Assistant City anager
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January 17, 1997
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MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH
The Honorable Steve; Herfert
Councilmember, City of West Covina
1444 West Garvey Avenue
West Covina, CA 91790
Dear Steve:
SUPERVISOR FIFTH DISTRICT j
Last week, even after; many MTA board members had spoken out against a cost prohibitive subway
system, the board agreed to reconfirm the Metro Red Line as its highest rail priority! This $350
million per mile subway will continue to gorge precious transit dollars that could be going to meet
the needs of the 87 cities and 137 unincorporated communities outside of the City
of Los Angeles.
To continue funding�this out of control "money train ", once again the MTA board (on a vote of 8
to 5 with Directors Antonovich, Arthur, Dawidziak, Fasana and Yaroslaysky opposing, and' Directors
Alatorre, Burke, Molina, Orepeza, Riordan, Schatz, Wilson and Zarian approving), has rubber-
stamped staffs recommendation to allocate $300 million in freeway carpool money to the subway.
Originally, staff said that this shift of funds would not impact the freeway carpool program; but the
fact is that approximately 30 of the 280 carpool miles would be delayed by at least one to two years.
It is imperative for the cities and the county to unite in an effort to force the board to address all
transportation needs equally and fairly.
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The outlying cities and communities deserve to see their tax dollars invested in bus improvements,
carpool lanes and above ground rail systems in their neighborhoods where they live and work. It is
time to lift the dead hand of the subway from the people of Los Angeles County.
MICR L D. A`NTIONOVICH
Supervisor, Fifth District
MDA:rfo
ROOM 869 KENNETH HAHN HALL OF ADMINISTRATION, 500 WEST TEMPLE STREET, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012
TELEPHONE (213) 974-5555 * (213) 974-1010 (FAX)