It’s likely that Los Angeles voters approved two ballot questions that would earmark billions to address traffic tie-ups and homelessness, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The measures would provide funds to building many new rail lines and creating new permanent housing for the homeless. In order to become law, the two questions must be approved by a two-thirds majority. Final ballots were expected to take a few days to be counted, but it appears that the measures have been approved, the Times says.
The ambitious housing plan calls for borrowing $1.2 billion to construct homes. The money would be used to speed up construction of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people. Dedicated bonds would be repaid via a new property tax of about $9.64 for each $100,000 in assessed valuation each year over 29 years.
The transportation measure would raise county sales tax by a half-penny, generating about $120 billion over four decades for new highway projects, and expanded bus and rail lines, including boring rail tunnels through the Sepulveda Pass.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 12, 2015
Virginia surpasses Florida for strictest hurricane building codes
Virginia has edged out Florida as the state with the most stringent hurricane building codes, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety’s “2015 Rating the States” report.
Codes and Standards | Apr 6, 2015
Industry groups petition for change order reform on federal projects
Nine design and construction associations ask for assurance that funds available for additional work.
Codes and Standards | Apr 6, 2015
DOE releases Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines
The guidelines are aimed at strengthening and streamlining commercial building workforce training and certification programs for workers in energy auditing, building commissioning, building operations, and energy management.
Green | Apr 3, 2015
Georgia may ban use of LEED on state buildings
Georgia's state legislature is considering a measure to require all state buildings to only use green building standards that permit the use of Georgia's lumber.
Codes and Standards | Mar 29, 2015
Elevator shafts a major source of heat loss in New York City
A typical New York apartment building loses thousands of dollars worth of energy every year from leaky elevator shafts that vent warm air at the top of the building and draw in cold air at the bottom, according to a new Urban Green Council report.
Green | Mar 22, 2015
6 myths holding back green building
Sustainable design has proven benefits, so why isn’t it more widely adopted?
Multifamily Housing | Mar 16, 2015
New Jersey Supreme Court puts control of affordable housing agency in the courts
The court said the state’s affordable housing agency had failed to do its job, and effectively transferred the agency's regulatory authority to lower courts.
Codes and Standards | Mar 16, 2015
San Jose adopts bird-friendly building standard
The standard includes avoiding large chunks of transparent or reflective glass and adding fritting.
Codes and Standards | Mar 12, 2015
Energy Trust of Oregon offers financial incentives for net-zero buildings
The organization is offering technical assistance along with financial benefits.
Codes and Standards | Mar 10, 2015
Real estate interests push Congress for Census funding
The groups have joined forces to urge Congress to fully fund the 2020 Census and the annual American Community Survey in its 2016 budget.