California Voters Approve Traffic Reduction Measures
The 2008 election was an historic one – no doubt about that. Regardless of your political leanings, things are gonna change. For Southern California, one of these things may just be traffic.
Two measures passed on Tuesday will lay the groundwork for improved transportation, reducing our reliance on cars. The first was State measure 1A, a bond to pay for a high-speed train from Los Angeles to Sacramento and then on to San Francisco. Is it expensive? Of course it is. Estimated costs are $19.4 billion, though it will likely be considerably more than that. But having ridden Japan’s bullet trains, I can say that once it’s finished it will be a much better mode of transport than driving or flying to SFO - with drastically reduced carbon emissions to boot!
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The second measure approved by LA County voters, County measure R, will accomplish many things, including synchronizing traffic signals (how has this not already been done?) and fixing potholes. But more importantly, the half-cent increase in LA County’s sales tax for the next 30 years will extend light rail connections to the airport and expand the light rail and subway services in many areas across the city. This last part is huge – lines from Western/Wilshire to Westwood, Culver City to Santa Monica and others will improve the viability of LA’s public transport system, a system that currently relies heavily on buses (which still get stuck in traffic).
Imagine what LA would be like without the horrendous traffic? You may say I’m a dreamer, but apparently, I’m not the only one.
Photo credit: marktollerman on Flickr via a Creative Commons license
We need these trains everywhere, even though they are a little pricey. What a great way to reduce traffic and increase sustainability for our planet. Is this high speed train supposed to be as fast as the bullet trains in Japan?
Thank you for the great post!