Los Angeles Metro to spend $2B on construction projects over next year

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority has prepared a 2018 to 2019 budget that includes spending of $6.6 billion.

The budget includes about $2 billion for construction projects, with $1.74 billion going toward rail and transit initiatives and $250 million on highway projects.

The single-largest spend will be $980 million for the $2.5 billion second phase of the Purple Line Westside Subway extension.

Another $1.8 billion will be spent on operations and maintenance; $493 million for “state of good repair” improvements; almost $1.5 billion to subsidize local transportation agencies and regional rail; $167 million on planning and studying future projects and $417 million to pay off existing Metro debt, the publication reported.