Before You Vote on March 5
L.A.’s city election on March 5 includes a ballot proposition, Measure HLA (Healthy Sreets Los Angeles), which would require hundreds of miles of new bus and bike lanes with the ultimate goal of reducing deadly crashes. It is a laudible goal. In 2022, 159 pedestrians and bicyclists died in the city.
Last week the top L.A. budget official, City Administrator Officer Mark Szabo, released a 12-page updated report on the cost of the HLA measure if passed by voters. It would cost taxpayers at least $3.1 billion over the next 10 years, creating new budget obligations without any new, additional funds identified to pay the bills.
The BHA Board of Directors urge you to Vote No on the HLA Proposition.
The Board does not endorse candidates but when legislation or a ballot proposition affects our members, a position is taken. HLA maps of the proposed enhancements show a bike lane added to San Vicente Blvd. through Brentwood. This would require the elimination of either street parking or one lane of traffic. Or perhaps the median disappears. None of these options are feasible nor is the cost.
BHA supports the concept of increased safety on the roads but the cost in traffic congestion and the prospect of reduced funding for street repairs and paving is not a good tradeoff. The city tracks traffic death statistics and knows where the worst problems are to target funds to those areas. San Vicente is not one of them.
BHA is not alone in opposing HLA. City Councilwoman Traci Park, CD 11, has called it a “boondoggle.” The union representing firefighters is also opposed calling road diets a threat to safety. Mayor Karen Bass has yet to take a position, which nonetheless speaks volumes.
