The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) announced that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) was awarded $109 million for a new transit station and a project to allow more frequent Red/Purple Line subway service.
The award is from the state’s cap-and-trade system that is used to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote transportation options and improve the state economy.
“We’re very grateful to the state for recognizing the importance and potential of these two projects,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “A great way to fight climate change is to stop driving alone and instead take transit — and these projects will make transit a lot more convenient to many more people.”
The new Metro Airport Connector transit station, to be located at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street, will receive $40 million and will feature a full transit building, pedestrian plaza and bicycle facilities. Riders on Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line will use the station to transfer to the Automatic People Mover that will serve the LAX terminals. The people mover is currently being built and will be operated by Los Angeles World Airports.
Metro’s Red/Purple Line Core Capacity Improvements Project will receive $69.2 million in funding for a new set of switches that will allow trains to turn around quickly at Union Station. This will allow subway trains to run every four minutes on each line at peak hours compared to the current time of 10 minutes. The project will reduce waiting times for riders and expand the capacity of the subway, which is being extended to the Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood
“The state’s cap-and-trade program and these two projects show that we’re determined to fight climate change,” remarked John Fasana, Metro Board Chair. “We’re not just building a bigger and better transportation network — we’re also building one that’s sustainable and friendlier to local and global environment.”