California panel OKs $704 million in gas-tax funding for LA Metro

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) last week awarded $703.6 million in gas-tax funds to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

The funding comes from the state's Senate Bill 1, which increased the state's tax on gasoline to pay for transportation improvements. The California State Legislature approved the bill in April 2017.

The CTC has allocated $150 million for a 96th Street station on Metro's planned Airport Connector rail line, Metro officials said in a press release.

"These SB-1 funds will help us leverage our local funding commitments to fully and quickly implement our region's critically needed transportation improvements," said Metro Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington.

Separate from last week's announcement, Metro will receive $1.088 billion from the California State Transportation Agency.