The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board of directors has approved a $6.1 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2018 following a recent public hearing and extensive public outreach.

The adopted budget represents a 1.45 percent increase from the FY 2017 budget – less than the 1.75 percent rate of inflation set by the Consumer Price Index.

“The adoption of the budget demonstrates Metro’s commitment to fiscal discipline and tight budget controls,” said Metro board chair John Fasana. “Through an aggressive transportation initiative focused on construction, bus and rail operations, and making sure our system is in a state of good repair to maintain and protect our assets, we are working diligently to anticipate long-term transportation needs.”

Metro’s budget includes an increase of 129,000 rail revenue service hours, an increase of 11.6 percent over FY 2017, with the addition of more rail cars to meet the growing demand on the Expo and Gold lines, as well as adding more service for special events.

“As we work to deliver the promises of Measure R and Measure M, it is Metro’s duty to exercise careful planning and to responsibly spend every dollar the voting public has entrusted us with,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “This budget continues the transportation revolution already in progress and prepares our region for the next century and beyond.”

No fare changes are included in the budget, and it places a renewed emphasis on right-sizing bus service levels along lines that parallel the Expo Line to reallocate those resources to improve Metro’s late night “Owl Network” and increase peak hour frequency on select bus lines.

The budget includes $1.7 billion for bus and rail operations; $2.22 billion for capital projects including major construction activity for the Regional Connector Project, the Crenshaw/LAX Line and extension of the Purple Line subway. It also includes $1.5 billion in funding for other transit agencies in L.A. County, as well as local funding for the county’s 88 cities and unincorporated areas – a $205 million increase over FY 2017 as a result of Measure M.

Metro will also continue its focus on maintaining its fleet, rail lines, transit stations and facilities in a state of good repair. Bus acquisition activities for FY 2018 include procurement of two types of buses, including 53 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to replace existing CNG buses scheduled for retirement. The purchase will reduce the average age of the fleet and make bus service more efficient.

Ten new electric buses will also be tested on the Metro Orange Line and the Metro Silver Line. Additionally, Metro will take delivery of 48 new light rail vehicles during FY 2018, and will increase heavy rail vehicle procurement for the Purple Line Extension subway project to replace the aging heavy rail fleet.

Construction will also continue on the Regional Connector, Crenshaw/LAX Line and the Purple Line Extension. Metro is expected to break ground on two additional Measure M projects: the Airport Connector project and the Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B to Claremont.

For information, visit metro.net.