Los Angeles Government Jobs Supported by Transportation Efficiency Initiatives

A push to increase the efficiency of local transportation systems could help create more Los Angeles government jobs.

Several local leaders are coming together to discuss how transportation reform can be accelerated in an effort to increase efficiency and create jobs.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Sen. Barbara Boxer, who also serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, recently co-chaired a roundtable to discuss these opportunities.

Part of the effort is focused on the 30/10 Initiative, which is meant to decrease the number of years needed to build 12 mass transit projects from 30 to 10 years by using sales tax as collateral.

That project alone would create 160,000 new jobs and result in 77 million more transit boardings, 521,000 fewer pounds of mobile source pollution emissions, 10.3 million fewer gallons of gasoline, and 191 million fewer vehicle miles traveled.

Keep in mind that because these will be government positions, anyone applying for a job will be expected to undergo a California background check (Click here).

"With 30/10 as a model for federal-local partnership, America's cities can build clean transit lines faster, creating jobs, saving money, improving air quality, reducing traffic, and efficiently transporting millions of people every year," Villaraigosa said. "Since no one federal program is large enough to build all 12 of our projects, we need to modify existing programs and create a new paradigm for leveraging local investment."

The roundtable discussion included testimony from leading figures in public, finance, infrastructure, environmental and urban policy. Those experts recommended increasing the total amount of funding available through the Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act.

"As we develop the new transportation law, we have the opportunity to reform current programs to leverage resources, create more jobs and accelerate construction of the transit systems, roads, and other facilities our communities need," Boxer said.