MAYOR, ARNOLD TALK UP TRANSIT VILLARAIGOSA PUTS IN PLUG FOR L.A. WHILE HELPING PUSH GOVERNOR'S PLAN.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] on Friday to promote transportation improvements that are included in the governor's sweeping $222 billion infrastructure plan, and insisted that Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. must get its fair share to relieve the region's notorious gridlock Gridlock A government, business or institution's inability to function at a normal level due either to complex or conflicting procedures within the administrative framework or to impending change in the business. . The high-profile politicians held a news conference at historic Union Station to spotlight $1.5 billion in road, highway and rail improvements earmarked for Los Angeles and Orange counties as part of the plan. ``Traffic is one of our biggest problems,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``We must work together as a united team of Californians, because getting rid of political gridlock means also getting rid of gridlock on our roads. ``It's about building a better quality of life for the people of California. It's about having more time with your families and less time in traffic. And it's about getting rid of air pollution which is good for everyone's health.'' Villaraigosa welcomed the governor's traffic proposal, calling the issue ``critical to the hearts, souls and wallets of everyone in Los Angeles.'' ``L.A.'s transportation needs are substantial and complex and they won't be remedied overnight,'' he said. ``While there's been a great proposal here, we're going to make sure at the end of the day we get our fair share.'' The infrastructure proposal unveiled earlier this month includes $107 billion for transportation projects, including $12 billion in bonds. The governor said he hopes California voters will approve a transportation bond measure this year, adding that he would prefer to see it on the June primary ballot rather than in November. But while Los Angeles is home to more than one-fourth of the state's population, Schwarzenegger's proposal calls for the city to get less than 25 percent of the funds. The proposal would provide $350 million toward the northbound 405 Freeway car-pool lane between the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and the Westside, as well as improvements on other L.A. freeways. Critics have complained that the plan would short-change mass transit mass transit, public transportation systems designed to move large numbers of passengers. Types and Advantages Mass transit refers to municipal or regional public shared transportation, such as buses, streetcars, and ferries, open to all on a by failing to earmark earmark taking a piece out of the edge or center of the ear with a punch as an identification mark. The shape of the mark may be registerable under local legislation. funds for San Fernando Valley busways, the Exposition train line or the mayor's proposed Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for H. Gaylord Wilshire (1861-1927), an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. subway. Instead, the governor's plan focuses on $290 million for track improvements and grade separations on a line that Metrolink shares with freight trains near Union Station. ``We believe public transit should be a part of this infrastructure investment,'' Villaraigosa said. ``If we don't get people out of the single-passenger automobile in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , nothing we do with the highways is going to make a difference.'' The Legislature has also proposed infrastructure plans, and committees are expected to start meeting next week on the various ideas. Lisa Mascaro, (818) 713-3761 lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com |
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