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Everything Metro Los Angeles Wants to Build Over the Next 40 Years

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The timeline for 40 years worth of Metro projects is revealed to the public

By Jeff Wattenhofer
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Want to see what public transportation in LA might look like in the year 2057? Metro has just released a draft report on how it plans to spend the $120 billion in revenue it would generate from its sales tax increase ballot measure. It's chock full of financial details, but more enticingly, Metro lays out the plan for the next 40 years worth of transit and highway projects including costs and the years they break ground. Remember though, it is just a draft, and things could definitely change following public input.

The full 81-page report is available to the public to review, but here are some of the highlights of what Metro is proposing.

The Timeline

Metro has broken up the next 40 years of transit projects into two fifteen-year timelines with an additional 10-year timeline after that. The list of highway projects is broken up into two 15-year timelines.

Here's the timeline for upcoming transit projects:

First 15 years

  • Airport Metro Connector Terminal on Green Line
  • East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor from Van Nuys to Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station
  • Bus Rapid Transit Connection from North Hollywood Red Line Station to Gold Line in Pasadena.
  • Gold Line Foothill Extension to Claremont
  • Westside Purple Line Extension to Westwood/VA Hospital
  • West Santa Ana Transit Corridor Light Rail from Artesia to Union Station Phase 1
  • Orange Line Improvements
  • Vermont Transit Corridor Bus from Hollywood Boulevard to 120th Street

Second 15 years

Final 10 years

Here are the highway projects Metro plans to complete with ballot measure funding:

First 15 years

  • High Desert Corridor Project
  • I-5 North Capacity Enhancements from SR-14 to Lake Hughes Road
  • Close the SR-71 gap from I-10 to Rio Rancho Road
  • SR-57/SR-60 Interchange Improvements
  • Add Express Lanes to I-105 from I-405 to I-605
  • Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Busway from UCLA to Van Nuys
  • I-710 South Corridor

Second 15 years

  • I-605/I-10 Interchange Improvements
  • I-5 South Corridor Improvements from I-605 to I-710
  • I-405 South Bay Curve Improvements
  • Extend I-110 Express Lanes South to I-405
  • SR-60/I-605 Interchange Improvements
  • I-405/I-110 Express Lane Direct Connect Ramps and Interchange Improvements

Metro also announced plans for a few bike path projects:

  • Complete the LA River Bike Path
  • LA River Water Way and System Bike Path from Canoga Park to Elysian Valley
  • City of San Fernando Bike Path along Pacoima Wash


Also on the docket is the Downtown LA streetcar project. Metro has plans to begin groundbreaking on the 3.8 mile streetcar project in 2053.

If passed, Metro stands to gain a lot of money from the sales tax hike. They've outlined a breakdown of where specifically all of that funding will go. Here are some highlights from how Metro plans to allocate its funds:

Major Transit Construction Fund

Transit construction will be allocated 35 percent of funding—33 percent of which goes to new rail and Bus Rapid Transit projects. The other 2 percent is for Transit System Connectivity Projects.

The Major Transit Construction Fund also sets aside some money for development of a few Metro pet projects. Metro sees a big future in its Bus Rapid Transit program, so they are putting $350 million towards expansion of the system. Additionally, $35 million is being allocated as seed funding for streetcar projects like the one proposed for Downtown LA. Finally, the Major Transit Construction Fund sets aside $2 million for "visionary projects" like and express connection between Union Station and LAX or extending the Sepulveda Pass to Long Beach.

Highway Funding

15 percent of the ballot measure funding will go towards highway improvements with an emphasis on increasing capacity, safety enhancements, and easing traffic bottlenecks. Another 2 percent of the funding will be used for "Highway System Connectivity Projects," namely better access to LA's airports and seaports.

Transit Operations

20 percent of the funding will be put towards system operations. Metro expects the new tax to generate $23.9 billion for improving safety, reliability, speed, and accessibility all across its transit system.

Local Return

Metro plans to put 16 percent of its ballot measure funding into local returns. Local return funds are allocated by Metro to cities in LA County to the improve and maintain transportation infrastructure. This can provide much needed funds for potholes, sidewalk repair, bike lanes, and more; Metro specifically outlines a plan to focus on better capturing and treating storm water as part of new construction projects it undertakes. An estimated $19.1 billion will be raised by the sales tax increase for local returns.

Regional Active Transportation Program

Two percent of funding is being put towards the Regional Active Transportation Program to "encourage, promote, and facilitate" Angelenos walking, biking, and taking public transportation. $17 million would be generated annually for projects like bike hubs, bike lanes, the Safe Routes to Schools program, and street improvements. Metro's "first mile/last mile" project aims to provide more access points to public transportation to eliminate the first and last mile of of a person's commute when they would typically be on foot.

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