DOWNEY – Mayor Hector Sosa traveled to Sacramento this week as part of a regional delegation advocating for funding for the Southeast Gateway Line, a proposed transit project that would include a station in south Downey.

Sosa was joined by elected officials from 13 cities across the region in a full-day advocacy trip to the state capitol, where they met with California state senators, assemblymembers, and transportation leaders to push for financial support for the transit line.

"It was a busy and very productive trip," Sosa wrote in a Facebook post following the visit. "We met with several CA State Senators, Assemblymembers, and transportation leaders to advocate and lobby for funding for this critical transit project."

The Southeast Gateway Line is a planned Metro light rail extension that aims to improve mobility for Southeast Los Angeles County residents. The project would create a much-needed public transit connection through communities that have historically been underserved by major rail infrastructure.

A station in south Downey would provide residents with increased access to public transportation and help alleviate traffic congestion in the region, advocates said. City leaders have long supported the expansion, emphasizing its potential economic and environmental benefits.

No timeline for construction has been finalized, but continued lobbying efforts are expected as cities push for the necessary resources to move the project forward.