Metro Unveils Aggressive Plan to Bring Projects to a "Shovel-Ready" State

In an action to move major rail, bus and highway projects closer to implementation, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) announced today a strategy to aggressively accelerate projects to help bring them to a “shovel-ready” state.

Operation Shovel Ready anticipates potential grants, private sector participation and local community support that can help fund major infrastructure improvements already identified for L.A. County. 

“We are on the verge of changing the transportation system throughout the County of Los Angeles. There are a number of projects — ranging from the Crenshaw/LAX Line connection to the LAX Airport, expanding hot lanes on the 5 freeway, to a bike path on the LA River — that will help us move people more safely and efficiently throughout the region, “said LA Metro board chair Mark Ridley-Thomas. “We are aggressively advancing the initial work on a range of projects, so that we are well positioned to possibly expedite those plans when funding for construction becomes available.”

Operation Shovel Ready specifies that any projects slated to move forward do so only with work that would be necessary even if the projects do not immediately receive funding for design and construction. In addition, funds needed to advance shovel-ready projects would not impact funding for currently approved projects.

“Experience shows that aggressively moving forward is more likely to advance projects quicker toward completion. Many transportation agencies have moved projects through planning before complete funding commitments are received and have ultimately been successful,” said LA Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington.