Key L.A. Metro Projects Receive $109M in State Cap-and-Trade Funds

A new transit station that will help passengers quickly reach LAX terminals and a project to allow more frequent Red/Purple Line subway service were awarded a combined $109 million in state cap-and-trade funds, the California State Transportation Agency announced Tuesday.

The state’s cap-and-trade system sells permits to businesses that emit greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Funds from the cap-and-trade system are used to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote transportation options and improve the state economy. This round of funding distributed $390 million for 14 projects around the state.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) Airport Connector transit station will receive $40 million in cap-and-trade funds. Riders on Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX Line and Green Line will use the station — to be located at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street — to transfer to the Automatic People Mover that will serve the LAX terminals. The people mover is being built and will be operated by Los Angeles World Airports. The Connector station is being designed to include a full transit building, pedestrian plaza and bicycle facilities. 

“The state’s cap-and-trade program and these two projects show that we’re determined to fight climate change,” said Metro Board Chair John Fasana. “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.”

Metro’s Red/Purple Line Core Capacity Improvements Project will receive $69.2 million in cap-and-trade funds. The new set of switches will allow trains to turn around quickly at Union Station so that subway trains could run every four minutes on each line at peak hours compared to 10 minutes currently. The project will also reduce waiting times for riders and greatly expand the capacity of the subway, which is being extended to the Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood. 

“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.”