Los Angeles area transit agencies are slated to receive more than $275 million in grant funding for capital projects and zero-emission bus purchases, the State of California announced this week.
The grants, distributed by the California State Transportation Agency, are part of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). Funding for TIRCP comes from the State's cap-and-trade program and vehicle registration fees.
One of the biggest recipients in this round of funding is the City of Inglewood, which was awarded $95.2 million for the construction of a 1.6-mile automated people mover system connecting the Crenshaw/LAX Line's Downtown Inglewood Station with the Forum, SoFi Stadium, the proposed Clippers basketball arena, and numerous adjacent commercial and housing developments.
The full project, budgeted at more than $1 billion, is also funded through local sales tax commitments, private developer financing, infrastructure impact fees, and other city funds.
Completion is expected in 2026.
Metro, in partnership with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, is slated to receive approximately $107 million for targeted improvements to Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line.
The project, budgeted at approximately $220 million, calls for the construction of new segments of double track, improvements to the Lancaster Terminal, and the extension of an existing siding. The improvements will allow Metro to begin regular 60-minute bidirectional service on the Antelope Valley Line, followed by regular 30-minute bi-directional service between Union Station and Santa Clarita.
Completion is expected in 2027.
The Antelope Valley line upgrades are one component of Metrolink's SCORE program, which envisions targeted infrastructure improvements to enable higher-frequency service across the more than 500-mile commuter rail network.
The Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency, also known as LOSSAN, is poised to receive $38.7 million in funding to construct new maintenance facilities in San Diego and San Luis Obispo. These new facilities will allow for longer trains at more frequent intervals, thus improving service on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner.
The approximately $87-million project is on pace for completion in 2026.
Other Los Angeles area recipients include:
- Antelope Valley Transit Authority - $6.5 million to purchase 11 zero-emission battery-electric buses and implement microtransit service;
- Long Beach Transit - $6.5 million to purchase five zero-emission battery-electric buses for commuter route between Long Beach and UCLA;
- San Bernardino Transportation Authority & Omnitrans - $15 million to build bus rapid transit system connecting Pomona, Montclair, Ontario, and Rancho Cucamonga;
- Santa Monica Big Blue Bus - $1.1 million to purchase seven zero-emission buses to extend Route 14 from Playa Vista to Inglewood;
- Torrance Transit - $6 million to purchase seven electric buses to expand service to DTLA, Inglewood, and other locations.
