Transportation officials came one step closer to equity across Los Angeles County after some skillful negotiation to include highway projects and other improvements during Wednesday’s meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

In question was MTA’s 30/10 plan that would accelerate 12 Measure R projects from 30 years completion to 10 years. As it was initially presented to the MTA board, the plan seemed too heavily weighted towards projects in L.A. City and not spread equitably to other areas of the county that were contributing to the funding through the 1-cent tax.

At the meeting, the group voted to support the initiative as amended by MTA Directors Michael D. Antonovich, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Gloria Molina and John Fasana to support the priorities outlined in the unanimously approved MTA Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

“The Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted to support the amended 30/10 Initiative by adding highway, public-private partnership projects and support for the LRTP-approved requests for the Foothill Extension and the Crenshaw/LAX Line.  Previously, the plan only accelerated 12 transit projects — but now it is balanced and equitable for the entire County,” said Antonovich.   “With the inclusion of our County’s San Fernando, Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel Valleys the 30/10 Initiative can move forward.”

According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, Measure R highway projects will generate 341,500 jobs, $46.3 billion in economic output and $15.1 billion in earnings, which now will potentially benefit Los Angeles County years ahead of schedule under the revised proposal.