MTA to Hold Hearings on Long-Range Transit Plan

Calling its long-range transportation plan a wake-up call, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has scheduled a series of public meetings on its transit blueprint for Los Angeles through 2025.

The recommendations include more rapid bus routes, expansion of Metrolink commuter rail, freeway improvements and bikeways.

Some environmentalists and transit advocates are critical of the plan, saying it doesn’t adequately address congestion, air quality and concerns of minority communities. Advocates have called for more transit corridors, additional bike and pedestrian improvements and more development closer to transportation centers.

“The greatest failing of the plan is that it doesn’t get us out of gridlock,” said Jim Stewart, a member of the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation. “The MTA has calculated how to get out of congestion, but they are not proposing it.”

What the MTA won’t propose, Stewart said, are controversial options, such as increasing gasoline taxes and parking rates, while reducing transit fares.

The MTA board will consider adoption of the plan at its April 26 meeting.

The public can request copies of the MTA’s “Long Range Transportation Plan” by calling (213) 922-2833.

The plan can also be viewed on the Web at https://www.mta.net. Click on the transportation plan link.

Copies are also available at the MTA’s Records Management office, level P-1, MTA Headquarters, One Gateway Plaza, next to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

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Public meetings will be held:

* March 15 at 7 p.m. at Northeast Valley Senior Center, 11300 Glenoaks Blvd, Pacoima.

* March 20 at 7 p.m. at the Boyle Heights Senior Center, 2839 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles.

* March 22 at 6 p.m. at MTA Headquarters, One Gateway Plaza, 3rd floor board room.

* March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at North Hollywood Recreation Center, 11430 Chandler Blvd, North Hollywood.

* March 24 for the Inglewood-LAX area, location and time to be announced.

Information will soon be available by recorded message at (213) 922-2833.

Comments about the long-range plan can be e-mailed to the MTA at mtaplan@mta.net.

The public can also mail comments to MTA Countywide Planning and Development, M/S 99-23-2, Attention: Long-Range Plan, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles 90012. They must be postmarked by April 11 to be considered for the board’s meeting.