Analyzing Metro’s draft framework for potential 2016 Sales Tax Proposal

During October’s committee meetings at Metro the draft potential ballot measure framework was presented to policy makers. As we reviewed it and listened to staff presentations we found it came up short on articulating a vision of what would a user focused measure could be. We found it came up short in sharing a narrative for the outcomes desired for mobility and accessibility for the region, but more focused on simply project lists without efforts to develop regional prioritization goals based on data and need.

How can Metro and partners work together over the next several months to move forward an expenditure plan that not only measures but addresses disparities in access and impacts from the system and allocation of potential new revenue of public funds?

How can this effort and narrative be shifted to: we are trying to build a county where people have safe and dignified transportation options. Metrics should analyze investments against those goals. Over the next year how can partners come together to develop an expenditure plan to put before voters that insures these investments address how we want to get around in Los Angeles County for all users and all trips – not simply framing the decision-making process around what do we want to build.

Take a look at proposed framework (especially attachment A) that the Metro board considered earlier this month.  We are currently reviewing it for analysis and recommendations before the Metro Board will consider the metrics for adoption at the Nov/December Board meeting.  And interested to see what the priorities are from stakeholders around the county? See the initial stakeholder input.

Metro’s latest schedule for this process was recently updated:

• Continued stakeholder outreach in November/December 2015
• Start of multi-faceted LRTP Education Program in November 2015
• LRTP framework adopted in December 2015
• Non-project needs assessment and constraints finalized in January 2016
• Final needs and performance metrics conducted and project scheduling analysis in February 2016
• Release of preliminary expenditure plan in March 2016
• Sub-regional and stakeholder outreach in April/May 2016
• Subject to Board direction, final expenditure plan and ordinance could be submitted for approval in June 2016, followed by submittal of final expenditure plan and ordinance to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in July/August 2016