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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA MTA) recently approved its Short Range Transportation Plan, which would phase in transportation improvements through 2009.

The plan includes expanding the authority’s light-rail system to East Los Angeles, completing the San Fernando Valley Metro rapidway project, implementing 28 Metro Rapid bus lines, adding high-capacity buses and building 70 miles of carpool lanes on area freeways.

LA MTA obtains $19.3 billion to fund current transportation operating costs and new transportation initiatives, which are expected to help accommodate an anticipated one million-resident population growth during the next six years.

The plan is expected to create 95,000 jobs, generate $10 billion for the region’s economy and help reduce up to 50 percent of air-pollution emissions, according to a prepared statement.