Controversial Measure HLA in Los Angeles asked voters to spend up to $3 billion to reshape the city’s roads, a plan backed by bicyclist groups and other organizations who said that by taking away car lanes — known as a road diet — and widening sidewalks and adding bicycle lanes, traffic will be forced to slow down and fewer bicyclists and pedestrians will be killed.
The plan was opposed by firefighter organizations who said it would create dangerous situations by increasing emergency response times, affecting evacuations during major emergencies, and endangering the public by slowing down firefighter vehicles.
In early returns on Tuesday, March 5, at 8:35 p.m. from the county Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office, 65.16% of voters supported Measure HLA and 34.84% of voters opposed it.
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The ballot measure known as Healthy Streets LA calls for significant changes to streets citywide whenever the city makes a routine street improvement, such as paving, on a street that is at least 660 feet long.
Supporters of the measure say the initiative mandates the city to not merely pave the street, but to add new features such as enhanced crosswalks, automatic pedestrian signals, bicycle lanes, sidewalk widening, and public seating areas.
Critics warned that the initiative would strain the city’s budget just when its administration is dealing with pressing problems like a budget deficit, homelessness, affordable housing, and public safety — and at the same time, critics say HLA will needlessly make it harder for motorists to get where they are going.
The measure would cost the city nearly $3.1 billion over the next decade, according to City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo. “This ordinance may increase litigation costs against the city and does not identify a new funding source. Therefore, diversion of existing funds from other city services may be required,” Szabo warned in his report.
The measure follows the…
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