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Review of November 2016 Transportation Ballot Measures

About 50 transportation measures appeared on local ballots on November 8, 2016. To date, Planetizen reviewed outcomes in nine regions in six states. Here we compare the measures in terms of revenue, taxes, projects, and reasons for failure.

January 12, 2017 - Planetizen

Auto Companies Prepare for Decline of Car Ownership

It's no longer just transit agencies that are trying to meet the first mile-last mile challenge—auto companies have also jumped in by offering "mobility services." And it's more profitable than selling cars!

December 27, 2016 - The New York Times

California

California's Birth Rate Drops to Lowest in Recorded History

Fewer babies are being born in the nation's most populous state, now estimated at 39.4 million residents, according to new data by the California Department of Finance. The state grew by .75 percent, adding 295,000 people in the year ending July 1.

December 21, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Foothill Transit

Local Buses Among the First to Benefit from L.A. County's Measure M

Fifteen municipal or regional bus services in Los Angeles County that receive funding from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be among the first to benefit from a newly approved transportation sales tax.

November 30, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Moving Truck

Where Millennials are Moving To and Leaving From

Apartment List has published research showing the top destination cities for those 19 to 35 years of age based on ten years of census data from 2005-2010. Among the top 10 destinations, only three were on East and West coasts.

November 28, 2016 - Apartment List

Del Mar Station TOD

A Potential Downside to $120 Billion in Transportation Investments in Los Angeles

The editorial board of the Los Angeles Times warns that along with new transit lines comes new housing for residents who want to enjoy the benefits of reduced auto-dependence. Plans need to ensure minimal housing displacement around the new stations.

November 16, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Lost Our Home

14,000 Homeless Women and Counting in Los Angeles County

The number of homeless women living in Los Angeles County has increased 55 percent since 2013. Women account for one in three homeless people in the county.

November 8, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles River

Los Angeles County: It's Time to Update the Master Plan for the L.A. River

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this week to begin the processing of updating the 20-year-old Los Angeles River Master Plan.

October 20, 2016 - Curbed LA

I-5 Widening

Critiquing the $1.9 Billion Project to Widen I-5 in Los Angeles County

Streetsblog slams Caltrans for wasting $1.9 billion on futile freeway widening projects.

September 29, 2016 - LA.Streetsblog

Gentrification

Mapping Gentrification and Displacement in California

The Urban Displacement project produces not only a detailed portrait of gentrification and displacement in California, but also a comparison between the state's two mega regions: the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California.

August 30, 2016 - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

LA Oldest Palm Tree

Study Examines the Effect of 'Holdouts' on the Development Patterns of Los Angeles

After building an argument that land assembly is key to reinventing cities for a new era, a new study identifies the impact of the landowners standing in the way of that progress.

August 22, 2016 - American Economic Association

Metro Map

Opinion: What It Will Take to Fix Los Angeles Metro

If Los Angeles residents approve the $120 billion sales tax measure in November, focusing on walkable communities and offering fast, frequent transit service will be critical to its success.

August 9, 2016 - Los Angeles Times - Opinion

Vanpooling the Green Way

Vanpooling in a gasoline powered vehicle is heavily polluting, according to Green Commuter, a new car share and vanpooling service that rents all-electric vehicles, such as the Tesla Model X.

August 1, 2016 - Auto Rental News

Expo Line LA Skyline

Light Rail Successes Draw Attention to L.A. Metro's Rail Problems

Two new light rail extensions opened in Los Angeles within two and a half months. Ridership is soaring on the Gold Line extension and preliminary reports look good for the Expo Line, but new riders experience problems familiar to long-time riders.

June 6, 2016 - Planetizen

Expo Line

Proposed $120 Billion Sales Tax Measure Polling Well in L.A. County

A single sales tax measure that would add a new half cent sales tax to fund transportation projects in Los Angeles County for 40 years, and extend an existing half-cent sales tax that terminates in 2039, is supported by at least 68 percent of voters.

June 1, 2016 - MyNewsLA.com

How High is Too High for Transportation Sales Taxes?

Sales taxes are regressive, but unlike the gas tax, they bear no relationship to transportation. Should a November transportation ballot measure pass, sales taxes in three cities in the county of Los Angeles would exceed 10 percent.

April 4, 2016 - KPCC

L.A. County's Strategy for Better Park Planning Explained

Los Angeles County's Community Parks and Recreation Plans (CPRPs) are an evolved methodology to process a broad range of data to better site and design community parks. CPRPs are explained by L.A. County park planner Clement Lau

March 30, 2016 - UrbDeZine

Stormwater Permits Create Funding Problems for SoCal Cities

The MS4 Permit was designed as a way to clean up urban stormwater runoff in Southern California. Many of the smaller cities in the region, however, are struggling to pay the bill to cover the permits costs.

March 27, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

$120 Billion Transportation Bond May Be Headed to Los Angeles County Voters

The transit and road measure, based on extending and increasing half-cent sales taxes, would fund a massive amount of light rail, bus, and road measures, including building a Sepulveda Pass tunnel which would accommodate a toll road and rail line.

March 16, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

L.A. Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Opens Today

All Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Gold Line riders will enjoy complimentary rides on Saturday to celebrate the opening of the $1 billion, 11.5-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension in the San Gabriel Valley.

March 5, 2016 - South Pasadena Review

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