LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) eliminated the positions of four key executives to make the agency more efficient, officials told the Los Angeles Times. The transit system has already merged multiple departments.

The move surprised some employees because the transit system is  managing  $14 billion in Los Angeles County construction projects this year, including five new rail lines.

Leaders in the finance and real estate departments as well as the director of highway programs and the chief administrative services officer have left the agency. Additionally, the executive director in charge of real estate and the chief financial officer are expected to leave soon.

A source who spoke anonymously with the newspaper said that paying fewer executive directors may help mitigate the agency's financial issues, since it is facing an operating deficit of $36 million in 2016, and most executive directors earn more than $150,000 a year. For the full story, click here.