Proposed Gas Tax May Drive Prices Higher/ Claudia Paredes

AB2558 is a piece of legislation that is being introduced by Assemblyman Mike Feuer and supported by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority that would effect drivers in Lost Angeles County. Motorists would pay a fee of up to 3% of the price of gas (which translates into an extra 9 cents per gallon) or an additional fee of $90 on their vehicle registrtation that would all go towards fighting global warming. This registration fee would be higher for cars, trucks and SUVS in the hopes to discourage drivers from using these vehicles. The funding gained from this fee would be used for improvements to mass transit and programs aimed to relieve traffic congestion.

Opponents of this bill say that this is exploiting public sympathies to increase funding for a public transportation programs that already exist. They also point to the fact that gas is already taxed enough.

With the current budget deficit, funding for transportation and other local concerns must look towards new sources. Though the decision to put this bill on the ballot remains in the air, environmentalists argue that it is a local action to the problem of climate change that the federal government is not adequately responding to.


Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-taxes1apr01,1,7566510.story

Tougher environmental rules will apply to O.C. toll way/ Hagob Boyadjian

President Bush signed an amended military bill last week which negated an exemption sought by Orange County toll road planners in an attempt to avoid state environmental laws. The estimated $875-million project would build a toll way, which would complete Orange County’s network of turnpikes and would cut across San Onofre State Beach, which is a popular camping and surfing spot. Toll road officials claim that the project would be extremely effective in relieving traffic. Opponents, however, argue that it would affect campgrounds, wild lands, Native American burial sites and famous surf spots. Orange County toll road planners had obtained a federal exemption which had enabled federal law to have jurisdiction over lawsuits involving the agency and the Foothill South as opposed to state law which is much more inflexible. Members from the board that governs the Foothill-Eastern toll way explained that they sought the exemption not because they sought after special legislation but because they needed to determine which authority, state or federal, it was to follow for the proposed route.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tollroad30jan30,1,5217670.story

Toll Lanes on L.A. County Freeways May Be Coming Soon / Laura Elena Ortuno

L.A. County transportation officials stated this past Tuesday that the implementation by spring 2009 of rush-hour toll lanes will depend on the approval of a huge federal grant. A total of $648 million will be needed to put this project into action.

Although MTA and Caltrans officials stated that this project has always been controversial, it seems to be an appropriate alternative for a city characterized by having the worst traffic congestion in the U.S.

The plan will consist of converting approximately 85 miles of the 110, the 210 and the 10 freeways into toll lanes. Eventually, a second phase would further expand the carpool lanes on these freeways.

Although the plan seems to be a good option to the recurrent problem in L.A., it will all depend on the grant. Good ideas need funding, or else that is all they are, just “good ideas.”

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-congestion9jan09,1,5309757.story?track=rss