The Low down on the MTA Board of Directors Meeting from Thursday, May 28th

BRU Members observe from the front seats

At a time when economic and environmental conditions demand an investment in public transit, the Bus Riders Union (BRU) is deeply disappointed by the MTA Board vote to cut 120,000 hours in bus service.  These cuts come a time when the MTA has over:

•  $49 million operations surplus from FY 2008 
•  $50 million in additional bus operations funds from Measure R
•  Approximately $1 billion in federal stimulus package funding

But the Real Story Was...

Mayor Villaraigosa and LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Nowhere To Be Found During Critical Budget Vote, LA City Councilmember Jose Huizar and Supervisor Gloria Molina Present, Yet Silent and Ultimately Approve the MTA Budget.

We Urge Mayor Villaraigosa and the Entire MTA Board Of Directors to Support the BRU's Clean Air and Economic Justice Program & Rescind FY 2009-2010 Bus Service Cuts

MTA Budget Grows By $500 Million for FY 2009-10, yet, they Move to Cut Bus Service, Which Could have Been Saved For Only $6 million!  Just one month before LA residents will be hit with another transit related ½ cent sales tax increase, the MTA Board of Directors voted to approve a $3.9 billion budget that included a reduction of approximately 120,000 hours of bus service, in spite of a $500 million increase to their budget and a clear public obligation to expand bus service, not reduce it.  MTA's decision to cut bus service; only raises BRU's concerns that certain forces within the MTA Board, in fact, have no real intention to expand bus service, but instead are determined to raid the earmarked 20% of Measure R funds specifically for bus improvements for rail and highway.  MTA staff has yet to produce a viable plan that protects this money for the improvement and expansion of the bus system.

Lets Talk About Civil Rights and Transit Racism

MTA's proposed "efficiency cuts" are an attack on bus riders! 

120,000-hour reduction in bus service represents a significant cut for a bus system already under-resourced and overburdened. "Short-lining" and "trip-thinning"-two methods described by MTA as mere "efficiency reductions"- mean longer waits, unnecessary transfers, and an overall extended travel time for bus riders already facing major transportation hurdles to gain access to jobs, education, health care.

MTA breaks promises, erodes the gains of the Civil Rights Consent Decree. 

If these cuts are not rescinded, this set, combined with two previous rounds of cuts since 2007, will have succeeded in eroding 1/3 of the bus service expansion implemented under federal court supervision during the BRU's 10-year civil rights consent decree. MTA has failed to fulfill the public commitment it made to the courts in 2006 to sustain expansion and improvements made under the decree. Unless MTA changes its course, re-instating federal court oversight will be necessary. 

Rail Addiction, bus service and MTA's deficit mentality

MTA staff continues to claim that a "structural deficit" in the bus operations budget makes service cuts and fare increases necessary. For the BRU, the "structural deficit" is based on a deficit mentality that will always view the bus system budget as "too large" without ever questioning the fiscal problems built in to MTA's misguided approach to rail construction and operation. MTA must stop raiding the bus operations budget to pay for new rail projects and it must protect all MTA bus-eligible funding for operations, including but not limited to Measure R and Prop A and C.

BRU has a Plan for Clean Air and Economic Justice, Civil and Human Rights

The BRU seeks to work with MTA to aggressively leverage for the expansion of operations funding at the state and national level. At the same time, we call on the MTA Board to take bold action by investing Measure R and federal stimulus funds in a massive bus expansion program. We particularly call on Mayor Villaraigosa, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Councilmember José Huizar to support the BRU Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan-expanding the peek fleet by 500 buses, reversing the 2007 fare increase, and investing $150 million in Bus Only Lanes-provides an excellent model that creates thousands of green union jobs, generates billions in economic stimulus for southern California while ensuring all workers have the public transit to their jobs.            

Take action today to protect the future of public transportation in LA County!

Please call or email:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

(213) 978-0600           
mayor@lacity.org

Councilmember José Huizar

(213)-473-7014          
councilmember.huizar@lacity.org

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

(213) 974-2222          
markridley-thomas@bos.lacounty.gov

The Entire MTA Board of Directors

http://www.metro.net/about_us/board/board_members.htm

To demand that they take leadership to:

• Adopt the BRU's Clean Air and Economic Justice Plan that calls for:
• 500 expansion buses
• Reversal of the 2007 fare increase
• $150 million for Bus Only Lanes

Protect the Integrity of Bus System and Its Resources 

• Rescind the reduction of 120,000 hours of bus service in the FY 2009-2010
• Protect MTA bus eligible funds including but not limited to Measure R, Prop A and C