> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Local officials urge public to support transit
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/local-officials-urge-public-to-support-transit/
- Published: 2008-07-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:07:52.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*BBB could lose as much as $3.5M*

*By DAILY PRESS STAFF*

CITYWIDE Officials from the city and the Big Blue Bus are urging residents to contact their local members of the Legislature in an effort to denounce the proposed cuts to the state’s transportation budget.

The proposed cuts to the state’s already diminished budget would divert $1.4 billion earmarked for transit, to other areas experiencing deficits within the state’s General Fund.

This could cause the Big Blue Bus to lose as much as $3.5 million, at a time when gas prices are at record highs and ridership has increased by 7.1 percent. Cuts of this nature would prevent the Big Blue Bus from adding any new services or additional buses to overcrowded lines.

A number of city officials said reduced funding may also lead to fare increases and service cuts around the state, just as transit ridership reaches all time record levels. The elderly, disabled, and residents who don’t know a car would be hardest hit by any cut backs in service or possible fare increases.

"People all over Los Angeles and other parts of the state are flocking to public transit because of spiraling, out of control gas prices,” said Stephanie Negriff, director of transit services for the Big Blue Bus. “People need to have transit options that don’t involve driving a car to help them economically with the rising cost of gas... People depend on low cost and effective public transportation every day to go to work and school, to keep medical appointments, to shop for food, and to take care of other everyday needs. It will be devastating to a large number of people if we continue losing these funds.”

This latest action of the proposed transit cuts follows last year’s decision to permanently reduce the budget by diverting 50 percent of the revenue from the sales tax on gasoline (called “spillover” funds) into the General Fund to offset other budget problems. Until last year, 100 percent of spillover funds had been allocated for use by transit agencies, the use of which has been overwhelmingly and repeatedly approved by voters over the past 30 years, city officials said.

“We need the public’s help to get this critical message across that transit funds that have been voted on and protected over and over again by the people should be used for transit only and not as a band-aid to help the state budget,” Negriff said. “It’s important to let your voice be heard, because people can make a difference in these matters.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 10, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071008.pdf?ref=smdp.com)