There are fewer freeway accidents, more people living near public transit hubs and more buses running on time since county voters approved Measure R in 2008, the final version of a Metro report released Monday found.
“In Los Angeles County, we must applaud the voters for their imagination and foresight, as they requested more transportation options and were willing to vote for Measure R and Measure M to support that request,” Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said.
“As we add more services and reorganize others, our region is changing. This report shows us what progress looks like.”
Measure R increased sales tax by a half-cent to help fund public transportation projects and is expected to generate $40 billion in revenues over 30 years. Measure M was another half-cent increase approved in November.
The initial report, released in May 2016, covered 2008 through 2015 and showed more than 480,000 Los Angeles County residents were living within a half- mile of transportation projects that have opened since 2009, making more than 22 percent of the population living near a Metro rail station, a Metro bus rapid transit line or Metrolink commuter rail station.
The final report also notes that 74 percent of Los Angeles County residents live within a quarter-mile of a Metro bus stop and 41 percent live near a high-frequency bus stop provided by Metro or a partner agency.
Conditions on Los Angeles County freeways also have improved, the report found, with SigAlerts down 36 percent since 2008.
“Measure R has helped us produce travel options and augment existing programs that are building a new mobility for L.A. County,” said Metro Board Chair and Duarte Mayor Pro Tem John Fasana.
“Whether on bus or rail or through better management of freeway space, such as we see with the ExpressLanes, these options are creating a new system for getting around.”
The report shows that buses arrive on time 13 percent more of the time and customer satisfaction is up by 5 percent.
— City News Service