The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors adopted a $3.9 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2009-10, which begins July 1, 2009.

The spending plan is half a billion dollars, or just under 15 percent more, than the current Metro budget. The increase is largely due to a spate of new highway and transit building projects. Altogether, Metro will undertake $636 million in new programs in FY10, funded largely with federal stimulus funds and the new Measure R transit sales tax that will be collected starting July 1.

Major transportation advances in the coming fiscal year for Metro, include the beginning of operations for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension to East Los Angeles, the purchase of 219 compressed natural gas buses for Metro and its contract carriers, the continued construction of the Expo light rail line from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City.

As mandated by Measure R, there will be no general Metro fare increase in FY10, and fares for seniors, students, the disabled and Medicare recipients will stay at current levels for five years.