Los Angeles Goes for Transit, While Arizona Goes for Traffic

With all the commotion about high gas prices it is interesting to compare the leadership coming out of Los Angeles and Phoenix, Arizona. According to a recent LA Times Article, business and labor officials are coming out to support a tax increase to provide more funding for mass transit. 500 miles east on Interstate 10, Arizona's leadership is shooting for a tax increase that is going to give over 80 percent to highways and roads. Am I missing something here?

Business and labor leaders in Los Angeles are concerned with two things, traffic congestion and the cost of commuting. David Fleming, chairman of the Los Angeles County Business Federation said that his groups greatest concern was congestion. Labor leaders also have noted that the increase in transportation costs is eating away at the wages of LA's workers. It looks like a coalition is forming to pass the tax, however it will be difficult because in order to pass a tax over two thirds of voters must support the measure.

Arizona on the other hand has gone to the complete other side of the traffic continuum. They are opting for funding more highways and roads. This funding will more than likely will increase sprawl. They are facing opposition from the taxpayers and environmentalists. The Arizona Federation of Taxpayers has said that the measure spends too much on public transportation. According to the Arizona Star, the Sierra Club opposed it as well and complained that only 18 percent of the $42.6 billion that would be raised during the next 30 years from the new tax would go to such things as more buses and light rail. I am siding with the Sierra Club on this one. According to www.ArizonaGasPrices.com the cost of gas today is $4.07 per gallon. Yes, this is cheaper than California, but no bargain.

It will be interesting to see how this tale of two metros plays out on November 4th. Hopefully the voters in Arizona have more vision their leaders.