Balancing state budget on L.A. commuters

The budget adopted by state lawmakers this week yanks $1.3 billion from California's public transit pot, forcing officials to consider fare hikes, service cuts and project delays to make up the gap, transportation advocacy groups said. Sue Doyle in the Daily News

The decision essentially eliminates 40 percent of the money transportation officials thought they would have to spend this year. It takes money from projects to widen roads, develop rail systems and expand bus fleets to meet the needs of the state's 33.8 million residents and prepare for the 26 million more forecast to be living here by 2050.

"This budget will mean more single-passenger cars on the road," said Emily Rusch, transportation advocate with the California Public Interest Research Group. "We need more transit, not less, to keep our cities moving."

The $145 billion budget expected to be signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week will give $1.9 billion to public transit, said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the state Department of Finance.