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Purple Line Extension To Century City Expected To Be Completed By 2026
Century City's 'Twin Towers' (Photo by jmoschella via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Metro's westward extension of the Purple Line just got in the express lane after federal officials announced an influx of almost $1.5 billion to help the project move forward.On Wednesday morning, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Metro officials and Mayor Eric Garcetti gathered in Century City to announce a $1.2 billion federal grant that will help Metro extend the Purple Line from Wilshire/La Cienega to Century City. An additional $307 million will come in the form in a low-interest federal loan, and $169 million will come from a federal air quality program. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2.4 billion, and $747 million in funding will come from tax revenue generated by Measure R, which voters approved in 2008.
According to Metro, "major construction" will begin in 2018 and is expected to be completed no later than 2026—though officials are aiming for 2024 to boost the city's hopes at hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics.
This extension will add two stops to the Purple Line, at Wilshire/Rodeo in Beverly Hills and another at Avenue of the Stars and Constellation Boulevard in Century City.
A third phase of the Purple Line extension is expected to start work in 2019, adding two stops in Westwood near the UCLA and at the VA. Funds from Measure M are expected to fund that portion of the project.
According to the Daily Breeze, the recent push by officials (including Measure M) to fund and complete the Purple Line in time for the 2024 Olympics has moved the scheduled completion date up from the original goal of 2035.
Metro CEO Phil Washington: "Our plan is to do the entire Purple Line before the Olympics. … If it doesn't happen by 2024, you can fire me."
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) January 4, 2017
Construction on the first phase of the Purple Line extension began last year and is expected to be completed by 2023, with the opening of the Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega stations.
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A map of the Purple Line extension (Metro)
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