To prioritize rail safety and infrastructure upgrades, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) approved a motion by Directors Michael D. Antonovich, Don Knabe, Ara Najarian, Richard Katz, and Antonio Villaraigosa, securing "Measure R 3%" commuter rail funds to employ safety enhancing positive train control technology for Metrolink trains in Los Angeles County.

"The implementation of positive train control by Metrolink will enhance rail safety throughout Los Angeles County," Supervisor Antonovich said. "This action ensures that Measure R funds will be used for its intended purpose and not to supplement the MTA's shortfalls."

The motion directs the MTA's CEO to prioritize the implementation of a positive train control in the County portion of the Metrolink service area.

Positive train control is a sophisticated technology that brakes to automatically bring both passenger and heavy freight trains to a safe stop to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments and casualties or injuries to the public and railway workers.