L.A. Metro unveils 'operation shovel ready' to advance transit projects

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced a strategy to aggressively accelerate projects to bring them to a "shovel-ready" state.

Known as Operation Shovel Ready, the initiative 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. Funds needed to advance shovel-ready projects would not impact funding for currently approved projects, Metro officials said.

The program anticipates potential grants, private-sector participation and local community support that can help fund major infrastructure improvements already identified for L.A. County, Metro officials said in a press release.

Transit-rail projects to be advanced through the initiative include the Airport Metro Connector, the Purple Line Extension section 3, and the South Bay Metro Green Line extension.

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

A map of transit projects to be advanced under Operation Shovel Ready
(Click to view larger)
Source: L.A. Metro's Scribd account