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Metro Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Proposed Half-cent Sales Tax The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) released the results of a study showing that 73 percent of Los Angeles County residents surveyed would support a proposed half-cent sales tax on the November 2008 ballot to fund transportation infrastructure improvements, if an election were held today. Release of the results comes two days prior to the Metro Board’s June 26 meeting where members will discuss the initiative. The poll was conducted from June 5 to June 15, 2008 with 1,400 likely voters surveyed by Fairbank, Maslin, Maulin & Associates (FMM&A). Respondents were asked about projects spread across all of the County ranging from the extension of light rail systems and connectivity to the airports to local neighborhood projects such as repairing potholes and synchronizing traffic signals. The FMM&A study confirms a recently conducted third-party survey by MoveLA, a coalition bringing together key constituencies to explore alternative transportation funding and implementation strategies. Both surveys found support for the initiative exceeds the two-thirds margin needed to pass the measure. “The sales tax initiative to relieve traffic congestion has an incredibly high level of support across the County,” said Metro CEO Roger Snoble. “With gas prices rising through the roof and our roads growing more congested by the day, residents are calling out for an improved public transportation system.” The survey was conducted after the Metro Board’s April meeting where members asked Metro staff to examine the initiatives viability and report back with the results. If the measure is placed on the November 2008 ballot and musters the necessary two thirds voter approval, the new tax would generate approximately $40 billion over 30 years and would finance dozens of street and highway improvements and new public transit projects in Los Angeles County. The decision by Metro directors about whether or not to place the initiative on the ballot will coincide with the Metro Board’s review of the agency’s draft Long Range Transportation Plan that looks ahead to the year 2030 and addresses mobility improvements necessary for handling another 2 million people living in the county and exponential growth in truck and rail traffic moving cargo from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Editors Note: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority uses its popular name, “Metro” in all external and internal communications materials. We prefer this reference and ask for the media’s cooperation in updating written style guides accordingly as well using “Metro” in verbal references. If you need to update your files with the current Metro logo, please call Metro Media Relations at 213-922-2700. Copyright © 2008, LACMTA | Privacy Policy |