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LA Supervisors Approve Transit Tax Extension On Fall Ballot

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to put a proposed 30-year sales tax extension for transportation projects on the November ballot.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's ballot proposal, introduced as Measure R in 2008, asks that the half-cent traffic relief sales tax continue until 2069 instead of 2039.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich was the lone opposing vote. He said he wanted to use the county's administrative authority to challenge the measure.

According to the proposal, the sales tax revenue will "advance Los Angeles County's traffic relief and job creation by accelerating construction of light rail, subway, and airport connections within five years, not 20."

The revenue will also fund "countywide freeway traffic flow, safety, and bridge improvements and will keep senior/student/disabled fares low."

"To tell people that this will all be done in five years (is) utter nonsense," said Antonovich.

However, supporters of the measure say projects will move ahead faster and cost less.

"It helps complete our transportation projects more quickly," said Cosette Stark, Metro's director of transportation programming and development.

On Monday, MTA officials threatened to sue the Board of Supervisors if they failed to act on the measure at Tuesday's meeting.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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