Overview

Acceleration of Measure R Highway Projects

The Metro Board of Directors recently initiated a program to explore the use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate delivery of highway projects included in Measure R and which are not fully financed through traditional funding sources.

The overall purpose of the PPP highway program initiative is to establish an approach on how to identify, assess and implement projects using private sector participation, with the overall goal of accelerating Metro’s delivery of highway projects in Los Angeles County.

The 30/10 Initiative was recently introduced to accelerate Measure R transit projects in Los Angeles County. At the same time, the Board adopted a policy to combine long term countywide sales tax revenue from Measure R, approved by voters in 2008, with alternative project delivery and financing methods for highway projects.

Benefit

Benefits of Accelerating Highway Projects in Measure R

• Substantial cost savings by limiting the effect of inflation while taking full advantage of design-build, and/or competitive construction bids.
• Create tens of thousands of jobs, beginning with the design and construction phases and continuing through future operation and maintenance activities, which will improve the local economy.
• Reduce traffic congestion, thousands of hours of saved travel time and improved air quality for Los Angeles County for decades to come.

Many of the highway projects to be undertaken have the capability to generate a substantial new revenue source in Los Angeles County through the prospect of general and targeted tolls and/or user fees. Such user fees can be part of PPPs for development of new highways, extensions to existing facilities, freight and goods movement services and high occupancy toll (“HOT”) lanes.

Accelerated Highway Projects