[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by tijlover

Yes, we keep raising the sales tax to hire more cops, and in L.A., they raised the sales tax a whole 1/2 percent, sometime ago, with the approval of 68% of the L.A. county voters, to go on a light rail construction spree. And each line they build, it takes X number of cars off the road, less traffic fine revenue for the police.

Actually sales tax was raised 1/2 penny not 1/2 percent. 1/2 percent of the already existing 8.75% sales tax would be 4/100th of a penny, not the 1/2 cent that the sales tax was increased. Perhaps if the ignorant voters had realized that the sales tax increase was actually about 1000X greater than what the commercials told them, they would not have voted for the increase. But that is what you get with an uninformed voting populace. There really should be some sort of test required before people should be allowed to vote.

Also fewer cars on the road should lead to increased revenue from traffic fines. More cars = more traffic = slower speeds and speed is the majority of the reasons for traffic stops. Fewer cars (because more people on light rail) = less traffic = higher speeds.

Unless it is only the speeders that have opted to switch to light rail, in which case why would the speeders switch to a mode of transportation that more often than not will take them a longer amount of time to get to their destination as opposed to driving themselves in often half the time?

[tijlover]

^ Have you rode the light rails in L.A., with tops speeds of 79.5MPH? I've ridden the Green Line from Norwalk to Redondo, which runs along the freeway, and from the train windows I can see we're passing up traffic on the freeway!

Initially, long ago, they raised the sales tax, what? 1/2 percent, never rescinded, for more police officers, and since then there has been nickel and dime increases since then!

[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by tijlover

^ Have you rode the light rails in L.A., with tops speeds of 79.5MPH? I've ridden the Green Line from Norwalk to Redondo, which runs along the freeway, and from the train windows I can see we're passing up traffic on the freeway!

Does not seem very efficient to me. 1.5-2 hours on public transit right now vs 35 minutes by car.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by C_A_Braun

Does not seem very efficient to me. 1.5-2 hours on public transit right now vs 35 minutes by car.

All is well and fine until you run into a major traffic jam, and then? The train zooms by you with lots of grinning faces!

I've ridden every light rail line in L.A., except the recent extension of the Expo line from Culver City to downtown Santa Monica! $7 for a Tap card, good for 24 hours of travel!

[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by tijlover

I've ridden every light rail line in L.A.

I have not, but I guess I just value my time more than you. The few times that I have taken the gold line between Pasadena and DTLA, I would have saved time driving myself.