Metro released its budget Tuesday for the 2022 Fiscal Year that runs between this coming July 1 and June 30, 2022. A presentation and the budget book are above.
The Metro Board of Directors will consider the budget as part of their May round of meetings. The Metro Board will hold a budget hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, and the full Metro Board will consider the budget at their meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 27.
Some highlights from the budget:
•The proposed $8.0-billion budget for FY22 is balanced and focuses on recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through an equity lens.
•Service restoration is a priority as Metro looks to restore bus and rail service to pre-pandemic levels with the NextGen Bus Plan fully implemented in FY22 to support ridership recovery.
•The Crenshaw/LAX and Regional Connector projects are poised to begin pre-revenue operations and testing that will ultimately lead to the offering of more transit options across Los Angeles County
•The introduction of new initiatives for public safety and homelessness including increased Metro staff presence at facilities and on Metro vehicles, elevator attendants at stations, a call point security program with blue light call boxes and efforts to address the unhoused on Metro’s transit system
•Continued investment in the region’s future including the ongoing construction of the D Line (Purple) Subway extension, the L Line (Gold) Foothill Extension, the Airport Metro Connector, Interstate-5 North Capacity Enhancements and other projects throughout the region.
Critical to the development of the FY22 Budget, and the planned restoration of service, has been the support provided through the Federal Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).
This isn’t just good news for Metro — but for the entire transit industry across the region and nation. Thanks to the accelerated roll out of COVID-19 vaccinations and an anticipated gradual but steady economic recovery, agency finances are in better shape than a year ago this time.
Note to readers and editors: Metro Operators are crucial to keeping LA moving. Metro is currently hiring more than 500 bus operators and is offering a $1,000 bonus for coming aboard. This is a great career opportunity. Metro offers competitive hourly rates starting at $17.75 for part-time bus operators and benefits include health insurance, tuition reimbursements, paid training, retirement plan options and part-time flexible hours. Please encourage friends, family and community members to become a part of the Metro team that provides excellence in service and support and keeps our region moving. Apply at metro.net/driveLA.
Categories: Policy & Funding, Projects
The proposal to add more bus only lanes on highways is great. We also need bus only lanes in local areas where public transit is most used. I also like the idea to expand upon the light rail. I am looking forward to seeing the purple line extension, and the LAX light rail. We need the purple and blue lines to connect at some point. I like the reduced fare for low income riders, too. The upgraded buses with wifi, phone chargers, and air conditioning have been much appreciated, looking forward to seeing more of that, glad the budget includes bus upgrades.
Typo in first line: it’s not it’s, it’s its.
So what percentage of the $8 billion was afforded by renting out Union Station to the Academy? Surely that was Metro’s biggest gain in revenue this year, as ridership and thus farebox takes are still tanked.
Metro really needs to look at the budget because of all the bus assignments being cancelled every day that’s $15,000 per assignment metro is losing. How are you proposing to stop that?
Metro really needs to look at the budget because of all the bus assignments being cancelled every day. That’s $15,000 per assignment metro is losing $$ on . How are you proposing to stop That?