FTA withdraws $156 million from L.A. MTA project

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) pulled $156 million earmarked for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) construction of the Expo rail line, reported The Los Angeles Times. The FTA surprised MTA officials by taking the money, about 40% of the Expo Line's budget, off the table and making it available to new public transportation construction projects in other regions, said the Times. Construction of the Expo Line, eventually linking Los Angeles and Santa Monica, Calif., could be delayed by this action and force the creation of a much shorter railway. FTA officials released the funding because planning for the project would not be completed in time for construction to begin by the end of 2003, when authorization for the nation's four-year transit package comes to a close.