Metro Receives $22 Million Grant To Upgrade 2 LA Public Transit Stations

WILLOWBROOK (CBSLA.com) — U.S. Department of Transportation officials announced on Saturday that a $22 million grant was awarded to upgrade public transit at a pair of Metro light rail stations in Los Angeles.

According to authorities, 72 transportation projects across 42 states received grants as part of the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.

Los Angeles received two of those grants, giving authorities access to modernize public transportation in two areas of the county.

KCAL9's Louisa Hodge shared how construction plans will impact commuters.

The TIGER program offers federal funding possibilities from private sector partners, state, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and transit agencies for large projects, a press release states.

"People should be able to go to work without wondering whether they're going to get stuck in traffic or not," U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Victor Mendez said.

The first grant, totaling $10 million, will go towards modernizing and renovating the Rosa Parks Station in Willowbrook. According to authorities, this station is the fourth busiest Metro stop in Los Angeles.

Construction plans include creating a community plaza, extending the train platform, building new pathways and relocating a bus terminal to become closer to the light rail station.

"The county seeks to make good on the promise to expand medical services and economic development both on and around the Martin Luther King Medical Campus," said Mark Ridley-Thomas of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The second grant, totaling $12 million, will help to improve access to Little Tokyo.

"In Little Tokyo, our East side access project, is improving the first and last mile connections between transit stations and the community," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "This means were making it easier to walk and to bike between the Gold Line and nearby residences and small businesses."

Since 2009, California has received a total of $106 million for transportation projects across the state, officials said.