METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (MTA) REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1998

Notice is hereby given of the intention of the persons whose names appear hereon to circulate the petition within the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the purpose of enacting the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (MTA) Reform and Accountability Act of 1998. A statement of the reasons for the proposed action as contemplated in the petition is as follows:

Los Angeles needs a safe, affordable and efficient mass transit system, but construction of new subways is no longer a sustainable or affordable transportation policy. Upon completion of the subway to North Hollywood, further subway construction should be stopped because:

• the subway has been an expensive boondoggle replete with huge cost overruns and shoddy construction work;
• Federal funding for the subway project has been reduced, and continued construction with local funds threatens to bankrupt the MTA;
• there are better, less costly ways to provide mass transit, such as expanded bus service and light (surface) rail; and
• the MTA cannot be relied upon to continue subway construction in an efficient manner, given its own Inspector General’s finding that MTA is completely lacking in accountability and fiscal controls.

In 1980 and 1990, the voters added a total of one cent to the sales tax in Los Angeles County for the purpose of improving public transit countywide. The MTA needs these tax revenues in order to build new subways. The voters can prevent the construction of new subways by prohibiting the use of transportation sales tax revenues for this purpose.

The MTA Reform and Accountability Act of 1998 will provide the flexibility we need to improve mass transit in Los Angeles County with light (surface) rail and expanded bus service. It will also provide accountability in the expenditure of transportation sales tax revenues by requiring an annual independent audit of such expenditures and by creating an Independent Citizens’ Advisory Oversight Committee.

The Board of Directors of the MTA has proven itself unwilling or unable to make tough decisions in the interest of the taxpayers. The MTA Reform and Accountability Act is the last, best hope for building a safe, efficient and affordable mass transit system for Los Angeles County.