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Two agencies recently announced plans to place transit funding measures on the November ballot.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) half-cent sales tax measure would finance dozens of transportation projects. Estimated to generate $40 billion over 30 years, the measure would fund projects such as a Foothill Metro Gold Line extension, Westside subway extension and Expo light-rail line, Los Angeles International Airport rail connection, Green Line extension to the South Bay Corridor and downtown rail connector. The measure also would help subsidize Metrolink operations, maintenance and expansion, and enable LACMTA to purchase more rail cars.  

Meanwhile, Sound Transit's 15-year mass transit package calls for expanding light-rail service north from University of Washington to Northgate by 2020, and further north to Lynnwood by 2023; east to Bellevue and Overlake Transit Center in Redmond by 2021; and south to Highline Community College by 2020 and Federal Way by 2023. The agency also would expand Sounder commuter-rail  service, and provide longer trains and more trips on the Lakewood-to-Seattle line.

The package has a lower price tag and earlier delivery dates compared with a roads and transit package that voters rejected in November 2007.