Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City council sends smart-shuttle funding question to transportation committee after mixed reaction
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council voted to send a report back to the Transportation Committee on whether additional funding can keep the Smart Shuttle demonstration running after June 30, with council members sharply divided over the program's design and costs.
The Los Angeles City Council voted to send a report to its Transportation Committee to assess funding options for the Smart Shuttle demonstration and return to the full council for consideration on March 22. The referral passed by voice/roll call with a recorded tally of 12 ayes.
The motion asks the Department of Transportation to report back on the availability of additional funding to continue Smart Shuttle operations after June 30, when funding for three of four pilot areas is slated to expire. Jim Lefton of the Department of Transportation told the council that the program began as a two‑year demonstration funded under an MTA call for projects and that "for the third year of the project, we got, about 2,600,000.0 for this year to run all 4." He added that "the city matches about 1,550,000." Lefton said continuing the entire program for the next year would require about $3,000,000.
Councilman Nate Holden strongly criticized the program as implemented, saying the shuttle "is not operating that way at all" and calling the project "money good money thrown after a bad idea." Holden said the service is performing functions similar to existing MTA routes and suggested the city's transportation funds might be better spent on senior transportation such as CitiRide.
Councilman Paul Bernsen (identified in the hearing as a supporter of the program) defended the Smart Shuttle as serving areas with insufficient regular MTA service and as "the one link that gives people the opportunity to connect to other transportation services." Bernsen and other supporters urged the council to pursue matching funds from the MTA so the pilot could continue while the committee evaluates long‑term options.
The committee referral sets a Transportation Committee meeting for March 21 with a council return planned for March 22. The reportback will be the occasion for the council to consider whether to authorize city funds or pursue additional MTA or other matching grants to continue the demonstration.
Background and next steps
The Smart Shuttle was launched as a two‑year demonstration using MTA call‑for‑projects funds and local matching. According to the Department of Transportation testimony, one of the four pilot areas (Westlake/MacArthur Park) has lower service hours and will be able to run longer on the awarded funds; three other areas will run out of current grant funding on June 30. The Transportation Committee reportback is intended to clarify funding needs, the availability of additional MTA support, and whether the program’s service model should be altered.
Council action summary
• Motion: Send item 7 to Transportation Committee for a report back March 21 and return to council March 22 to consider continued funding for the Smart Shuttle pilot. • Outcome: Approved (tally reported as 12 ayes).
Council discussion emphasized two themes: whether the shuttles are duplicating existing MTA service and therefore wasting public funds, and whether the shuttles fill gaps in service areas and merit continued subsidy. The Transportation Committee reportback will provide the staff analysis and funding options that members requested.
