INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Inglewood city council approved a total of nearly $35 million of a combination of Measure M and Measure R grant funds towards contracts related to the Inglewood Transit Connector project during the regular city council meeting held Nov. 22.
Measure M and Measure R funds are derived from voter-approved sales taxes used to finance transportation projects.
A two-thirds majority of LA County voters approved the Measure R half-cent sales tax in 2008 to finance new transportation projects and programs, and accelerate those already in the pipeline.
LA County voters approved Measure M with 71.15% support in 2016. The no sunset half-cent sales tax measure funds projects to ease traffic, repair local streets and sidewalks, expand public transportation, earthquake retrofit bridges and subsidize transit fares for students, seniors and persons with disabilities.
The sales tax measures were imposed due to Metro’s alleged failure to apply for federal matching dollars to complete such projects.
“They [Metro] didn’t apply for the funds for the Crenshaw Line or the Wilshire Line either. It’s an 80% federal match. They would only have had to pay 20% but instead are paying the whole thing. Several billion dollars,” said a former member of Expo Communities United.
The downside to not having federal dollars attached to the projects are the strict building standards that come with it.
“The other day, the arm didn’t even come down as the [K-Line/Crenshaw/LAX] train was approaching on Eucalyptus and Florence,” wrote a commenter on social media. “The train conductor had to stop so the arms and lights could do their thing.”
The breakdown of transit connector-related contracts the council approved are as follows:
- Stipend Agreement for the Inglewood Transit Connector Project $7.5 million (Measure R);
- First/Last Mile (FLM) Improvements Project Funding Agreement $6.5 million (Measure M); and
- Acquisition of two parcels directly across from the Forum for $19,945,000 for the ITC project where Raising Cane’s was slated to be built (Measure R)
Other miscellaneous items approved in connection with the transit connector project are a cooperative agreement with Metro and reaffirming the selection of the Market Street – Manchester Boulevard Alignment as the ITC Project’s Locally Preferred Alternative.
Every business along this route should be concerned and reach out to the area’s council members about the Business Interruption Fund.
All items passed unanimously 4-0 with District 1 Councilman George Dotson absent from the meeting.
