The federal government has announced $2.1 billion in federal grant and loan agreements to help build the 3.9-mile Westside Purple Line Extension from downtown Los Angeles to the City of Beverly Hills.
This will expand transit options in Los Angeles County, one of the most congested corridors, officials said. The project sponsor, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), will receive $1.25 billion in construction grant funds from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program and up to $856 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program.
“The continued expansion of Los Angeles’ public transportation system is vitally important to millions of area residents who need reliable, affordable access to jobs, education, and other ladders of opportunity that this region has to offer,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. “We need Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill so we can continue to invest in more good projects like this one that help major cities like Los Angeles plan a sustainable future where hard-working families can fully participate in its growth and success.”
The Westside Section 1 project—the first of three planned extensions of the Metro Purple Line subway—is expected to improve travel times and transit capacity from Beverly Hills to downtown Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Union Station, and other Los Angeles county communities. The project includes three new underground stations and 34 heavy rail vehicles to augment the existing fleet. LACMTA estimates that project construction will create more than 22,000 jobs. The extension is expected to open in 2024 and provide more than 20,000 trips daily.
“The Purple Line extension will help to alleviate congestion on popular Metro bus routes along Wilshire Boulevard, giving residents more options for getting around the city—and making it easier than ever to get around without a car,” FTA Chief Counsel Carter said in a statement. “The future of Los Angeles depends on our ability to continue investing in the transportation infrastructure this city and others need to manage a growing population and accommodate future riders.”
