Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors approved the 30-year transport strategy, which is an updated 2020 Long Range Transport Plan, with a needed investment of USD 400 billion.
“Los Angeles is entering a transportation renaissance, a chance to redefine our city’s relationship with public transit and reimagine the ways it can be a force for good in people’s lives. The Long Range Transportation Plan paves a clear path to a more sustainable, fair, and equitable transportation future,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
According to the strategy, USD 193.7 billion representing 48% of the total value of the projects will be covered by the LA county sales tax, USD 80.7 billion (20%) will be provided through the state funds, USD 66.8 billion (17%) will come from other local financial resources. USD 33.8 billion representing 8% of the investment will be ensured from the federal funding, while the rest of USD 25.6 billion (7%) will come from financing proceeds.
Under the transport vision, the authorities intend to construct more than 160 km of new rail connections, which is country’s largest transit expansion plan.
The rail projects included within the strategy, which are under construction are the Crenshaw/LAX Transit LRT, the Regional Connector transit project, the extension of Westside D metro Line (Purple Line) along Wilshire Boulevard.
The future rail projects involve Foothill extension to Claremont, East San Fernando Valley LRT, the West Santa Ana branch corridor.
USD 80 billion will be invested to improve and expand the LA transit system, involving 22 transit corridors.
In total, the strategy will expand the Metro rail network to over 200 stations covering over 386 km.
Currently, the Metro rail and Metrolink trains are transporting 340,000 passengers per day within LA County.
The plan also highlights the potential to deliver significant mobility benefits to the region through major capital projects, programmes, partnerships and bold policies. After implementation, 21% of county residents and 36% of jobs will be within a 10-minute walk of high-quality rail or bus rapid transit options, up from only 8% of residents and 16% of jobs currently.
Beyond transit, Metro will invest in arterial and freeway projects to reduce congestion, will implement more bicycle and pedestrian projects to provide good bicycle access to downtown Los Angeles.
The 30-year transport strategy estimates an 81% increase in daily transit trips, a 31% decrease in traffic delay and a 19% decrease in overall greenhouse gas emissions in the county.
Share on:
