Measure R: 30-year transportation half-cent

A list of rail, bus and highway projects written into the measure. After 1.5% administration: 35% new rail and bus rapid transit, 20% highways, 20% bus operations, 15% Local Return, 5% rail operations, 3% Metrolink, 2% rail capital.

StatusIn effect

Rate½ cent on every taxable dollar countywide

Expected about $40 billion over 30 years—

Approved by votersNovember 4, 2008

In effectSince Jul 1, 2009

EndsEnds June 30, 2039The ordinance sets a 30-year tax starting July 1, 2009, covering fiscal years 2010 to 2039. Measure M then rises from a half cent to 1 cent on July 1, 2039, so the total Metro sales tax rate does not drop. Source

Background and sources

Sources (4)

2008 Los Angeles County Measure R Wikipedia
Local Return program LA Metro
Measure R: cash receipts, expenditure plan and audits LA Metro
Selected transportation funding sources (allocation formulas from Metro's funding guide) South Bay Cities Council of Governments

Written into the measure

Allocations in the measure

New rail and bus rapid transitshare of the money 35%

Highwaysshare of the money 20%

Bus operationsshare of the money 20%

Local Returnshare of the money 15%

Rail operationsshare of the money 5%

Metrolinkshare of the money 3%

Rail capitalshare of the money 2%

Latest amounts

Current figures

FY 2025-26 adopted$36MCity of LA Measure R Traffic Relief and Rail Expansion Fund

Explanation

The fund's full budget for the year. It includes money carried over from earlier years as well as new receipts.

Source: FY 2026-27 Proposed Budget, Supporting Information

FY 2026-27 proposed$34.4MCity of LA Measure R Traffic Relief and Rail Expansion Fund-4.5% vs FY 2025-26

Explanation

Source: FY 2026-27 Proposed Budget, Supporting Information

FY 2025-26 (Metro budget, includes two state TDA programs)$845MLocal Return from all four Metro measures, all cities and the County

Explanation

Metro's FY26 budget lists $844.8M for Local Return and two small state Transportation Development Act programs, down 8.3%, because sales tax was projected lower.

Source: Metro FY26 budget presentation

Revenue collected

Monthly receipts

No monthly receipts entered yet

Metro posts a monthly Measure R cash-receipts report and an annual audit report reviewed by an oversight committee.

Public reporting

Program dashboards

1 of 3 programs or reports have no public dashboard Tally LA could find (checked Oct 28, 2026).

Program	Dashboard?	What it shows or lacks
Monthly cash receipts	✓ Exists LA Metro	Monthly sales tax collected (PDF report, not a dataset) Open →
Annual audit and oversight report	✓ Exists LA Metro	Yearly audits of Metro and city spending Open →
Project-by-project spending tracker	✕ None found	No public dataset ties each Measure R dollar to a project's spending to date.

Votes

Decisions about this measure

Feb 10, 2026, City Council: Applied for the City's share of South Bay Cities' Measure M money for 2026 (12–0 (3 absent))

All votes →