5 Reasons To Love The Upcoming Purple Line Extension

Construction on the Purple Line extension can now begin thanks to a big check from the federal government. Thanks, Obama!A $1.25 billion federal grant and an $856 million federal loan will help to build the 3.9-mile phase of the expansion that will bring the the Purple Line from its origin in DTLA all the way to Beverly Hills, City News Service reports. (See Metro's map here.) Mayor Eric Garcetti was in Washington D.C. today for the announcement.

It's going to be awhile: Metro has estimated that this phase of the extension will be completed in 2023. But here are 5 reasons to love the Purple Line extension when it finally comes.

1. It Will Make the Purple Line a Real Grownup Line

As it stands, the Purple Line only goes two stops past the Red Line. The two lines both run from Union Station to Wilshire/Vermont. And while the Red Line runs all the way up to North Hollywood, the Purple Line runs only two stops into Koreatown. That's only 1.1 miles. (Also, for the better part of the last year or so, Metro made you transfer to a bus at night to ride to those last two stops while they did maintenance.) This phase of the expansion will give the Purple Line 5 unique miles, connecting downtown to Beverly Hills—without transferring.

2. No More Crowded 720

The 720 will take you up and down Wilshire, but it's not very fun. It's always packed to the point where sometimes, you have to wait for another 720 with slightly less riders to even start your commute. While I do enjoy bus surfing—that’s what I call standing in that weird middle connector part where the floor rotates—the sardine situation indicates that the demand is ripe for this transit expansion.

3. It Will Make Beverly Hills Mad

Beverly Hills High School spent $3.1 million, claiming that a methane issue would turn the school into a Hellmouth or something, if this fear mongering video is any indication. Turns out the future cast member of any 90210 revamps are gonna be okay, so it's time to embrace city progress.

4. Construction Creates Jobs

Tunneling underground to expand a subway line is obviously a huge project, and huge projects create jobs. The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation says this particular project will create an estimated 25,000 jobs.

5. It's A Win For Everyone

When public transit because accessible and normalized, it provides people with a choice regarding how they want to get around. It'll be hard to complain about traffic when your work day is bookended by chilling on a train reading a book. Plus, the more places a carless Angeleno can get to via public transit, the more options they have for employment, and in turn, putting money back into a local economy. Here's a guide to starting your new life as a transit user.