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CC - Consideration of a City Council Position on Measure M, the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, a Sales Tax Ballot Measure, which Appears on the November 8, 2016 Ballot.
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Meeting Date: September 12, 2016
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: Eric Geier, Metro; (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (09/07/16);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar (09/06/16)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider a position on Measure M, the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, a sales tax ballot measure, which appears on the November 8, 2016 Ballot.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On August 2, 2016, the Metro Board of Directors approved placing a sales tax ballot measure (Measure M), titled the “Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan” (Attached), on the November 8, 2016 ballot. Measure M proposes a new ½ cent sales tax starting in 2017 that would increase to a one cent sales tax in 2039, when the existing ½ cent Measure R sales tax expires.
On the November 8, 2016 ballot, voters will be asked:
“To improve freeway traffic flow/safety; repair potholes/ sidewalks; repave local streets; earthquake-retrofit bridges; synchronize signals; keep senior/disabled/student fares affordable; expand rail/subway/bus systems; improve job/school/airport connections; and create jobs; shall voters authorize a Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan through a ½ cent sales tax and continue the existing ½ cent traffic relief tax until voters decide to end it, with independent audits/oversight and funds controlled locally?”
YES or NO
Metro’s goals for the Measure M expenditure plan are to:
1. Ease traffic congestion; improve freeway traffic flow, and reduce bottlenecks;
2. Expand the rail and rapid transit system; accelerate rail construction and build new rail lines; enhance local, regional, and express bus service; and improve system connectivity;
3. Repave local streets, repair potholes, and synchronize signals; improve neighborhood streets and intersections, and enhance bike and pedestrian connections;
4. Make public transportation more accessible, convenient, and affordable for seniors, students, and the disabled; and provide better mobility options for our aging population;
5. Earthquake-retrofit bridges, and keep the transit and highway system safe and in good working condition;
6. Embrace technology and innovation; incorporate modern technology, new advancements, and emerging innovations into the local transportation system;
7. Create jobs, reduce pollution, and generate local economic benefits; increase personal quality time and overall quality of life; and
8. Provide accountability and transparency; protect and monitor the public’s investments through independent audits and oversight.
Measure M includes funding for the Westside subregion and Culver City as follows:
Subregion Projects: Westside Cities
Sepulveda Pass Corridor (Busway) - Adds two Express Lanes in each direction along the I-405 from I-10 to US-101, while maintaining current general purpose lanes, to provide express bus service connecting the San Fernando Valley to Westwood.
Airport Rail Connector and Green Line Rail Extension - Connects Metro Green Line Rail, Crenshaw/LAX Line Rail, and Metro and municipal bus service to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via the LAX Automated People Mover.
Purple Line Rail Subway Extension: Century City West to Westwood/VA Hospital - Extends Purple Line Rail Subway 2.5 miles along Wilshire Boulevard, two stations, from Century City West to Westwood/VA Hospital; connects the Sepulveda Pass underground via the Westwood/UCLA Station.
Sepulveda Pass Corridor (Rail) - Creates a 10-mile high-capacity transit corridor underneath the Sepulveda Pass. The project connects the San Fernando Valley to UCLA and the Westside by providing a link between the Orange Line in Van Nuys and the future planned Purple Line Rail stop.
Crenshaw Line Rail Northern Extension to West Hollywood - Extends Crenshaw Line Rail north from the Expo/Crenshaw Station to Hollywood at the Red Line Rail Hollywood/Highland Station.
LAX BRT Connector to Santa Monica - Links Airport Metro Connector to Expo Line Rail via a bus rapid transit corridor along Lincoln Boulevard. The project could be converted to a rail service at a later date if ridership demand outgrows the bus rapid service capacity.
Metro Rail and Express Lanes Extension from Westwood to LAX Metro Connector - 10-mile high-capacity transit and rail extension from Wilshire/Westwood Station to the Airport Metro Connector. This project could also add Express Lanes along the I-405 that provides express bus service connecting Westwood to LAX.
Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail Track Enhancement Project - Constructs a portion of the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line (currently under construction) adjacent to the LAX runways so it is fully underground.
Annual Local Return Allocations - Culver City
The Local Return Program is currently funded from three sales tax measures (Proposition A, Proposition C, and Measure R) and enables jurisdictions to provide and maintain the fundamentals of transportation at the local level. Cities use their Local Return funds to improve and maintain local streets on transit corridors and to enhance their capacity to improve safety. The Local Return Program also enables local governments to provide other essential local components of the region’s overall transportation system, including bus stops and bus operations; park and ride lots; bicycle access; pedestrian access and safety and security. Metro anticipates the following allocation of funds, if Measure M is approved:
Measure R - $498,567
Measure M - $565,043
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact to the City of Culver City for the City Council to take a position on Measure M. Should Measure M receive the required two-thirds majority vote in November, the City could anticipate receiving approximately $1.1 million annually.
ATTACHMENT
Measure M Voter Information Guide
MOTION
That the City Council:
1A. Adopt a position to support Measure M;
OR
1B. Adopt a position to oppose Measure M;
OR
1C. Take no position on Measure M.