Metro board slates public hearing on 2016 budget

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board said Wednesday it will host a public hearing to discuss its proposed $5.56 billion budget for 2016 fiscal year.

The proposed budget for the fiscal year, which begins July 1, includes financing for five major rail lines that are in construction. The Gold Line Foothill Phase 2A extension through Azusa is scheduled to open before the summer of 2016. The EXPO Line extension through Santa Monica is also scheduled to be open before the summer of 2016.

The budget will not cause fare changes or major service changes. Some of the projects also included in the budget are the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, the South Bay Metro Green Line Extension, the Airport Metro Connector, the Gold Line Eastside Extension Phase II and the West Santa Ana Branch.

The budget allocates $1.5 billion to maintain the current service level and $2.1 billion for a variety of capital projects, like major construction for the Crenshaw/LAX line and the Regional Connector Project. Another $1.4 billion will be dedicated to transit operators.

The public meeting will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2015, at 1 p.m. at the Metro headquarters building at One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor Board Room, Los Angeles, California. The hearing is part of the Metro Board’s Finance and Budget Committee meeting.

The board is scheduled to formally decide on adopting the budget plan on Thursday, May 28, 2015.