The California Transportation Commission Wednesday approved $703.6 million in funding for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority from last year’s gas tax and vehicle registration fee increases as part of its funding allocations for agencies statewide.
Metro highway, transit and goods movement projects that will use funds from SB 1, the increase in the gas tax and vehicle registration fees, include:
— Airport Metro Connector 96th Street Transit Station Project ($150 million);
— Interstate 5 Golden State Chokepoint Relief Project ($247 million);
— State Route 57/60 Confluence Chokepoint Relief Program ($22 million);
— America’s Global Freight Gateway: Southern California Rail Project ($128.6 million);
— Interstate 605/State Route 91 Interchange Improvement: Gateway Cities Freight Crossroads Project ($32 million); and
— State Route 71 Freeway Conversion Project ($44 million).
Metro received approximately 26 percent of total funding available statewide from funds generated by SB 1, according to Dave Sotero of Metro.
The $703.6 million in funding approved by the California Transportation Commission follows a recent award of $1.0888 billion from the California Transportation Agency to Metro for projects including the Gold Line extension to Montclair and Green Line extension to Torrance.
“Our programs depend on significant funding participation from both the state and federal governments,” Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said. “These SB 1 funds will help us leverage our local funding commitments to fully and quickly implement our region’s critically needed transportation improvements.”