![LA Metro light rail train on curving bridge](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/lametro_lightrail_lassen.jpg)
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been awarded $1.24 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help pay for expenses incurred by the agency during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Metro will use the America Rescue Plan Act funds to benefit riders, including seniors, persons with disabilities, low-income and transit dependent individuals by supporting bus and rail operations and maintenance – critical activities that will ensure our transit system operates safely, efficiently, reliably, and sustainably,” Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said in a news release.
The American Rescue Plan Act also included $1.6 billion for the Capital Investment Grant Program, the federal government’s primary program to fund the construction of new transit projects across the nation. The CIG Program in the American Rescue Plan Act included over $275 million for four Metro transit capital projects, including $59 million for the Regional Connector Transit Project; $66.5 million for the Westside Purple Line Extension Section 1; $58.5 million for the Westside Purple Line Extension Section 2, and $93.5 million for the Westside Purple Line Extension Section 3.