Market-based transportation alternatives for Los Angeles

On January 14, 1998, the Board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) suspended work on three rail lines, one of which (the Pasadena Blue Line) was already in an advanced state of construction, and decided to complete work on a single subway line currently under construction. Los Angeles County Proposition A passed in November of 1998 by a two thirds majority, prohibiting the MTA from spending sales tax revenues on new subways. We review a variety of market-based transportation alternatives to rail transit for Los Angeles, including busways, reducing barriers to entry to the market for transit services, and high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes.