One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Federal government commits $1.5B for Purple Line extension
Board members past and present with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, including Jacqueline Dupont-Walker, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Duarte Councilman John Fasana and former County Supervisor Zev Yaroslovsky accept $1.5 billion in federal grants and loans from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx.
(
Meghan McCarty/KPCC
)
A map of the Purple Line Extension
(
LACMTA
)
Listen
1:04
Federal government commits $1.5B for Purple Line extension
Federal and local officials on Wednesday announced roughly $1.5 billion in new grants and loans for the second phase of the Purple Line subway that will eventually run the length of Wilshire Boulevard to Westwood.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority project has relied on matching funds from the federal government along with voter approved sales taxes for the project.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti celebrated the funding announcement, saying he doesn't expect the funding to change with the transition to President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
"We feel strongly that this is a bullet-proof agreement and one that'll move forward in the interest not just of Los Angeles, but of America," Garcetti said at a press conference in Century City. "This is something people understand is not politics, it's not ideology - it's about getting people moving."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joined Garcetti and Metro officials in making the announcement.
The $1.487 billion agreement between the federal government and Metro calls for a $1.187 billion construction grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant program along with a $307 million loan from the Department of Transportation. Metro will also receive another $169 million in federal funding to mitigate congestion and address air quality.
The federal dollars will be added to $836 million in local matching revenues from Measure R and Measure M, sales tax increases approved by voters, bringing the budget for the second section to about $2.5 billion.
Sponsored message
The first phase of the project, extending the line to stations at La Brea Avenue, Fairfax Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard is already underway at an estimated cost of $2.64 billion, including more than $2 billion in federal grants and loans.
The full length of the Purple Line to the Veterans Administration hospital just west of UCLA is slated to be completed in 2035 but could be accelerated by 10 years with funds from Measure M and possible private partnerships.
A map of the Purple Line Extension
(
LACMTA
)
You can see a larger version of this map here.
This story has been updated.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
