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 in Los Angeles 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.
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 U.S. 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 sales tax increases approved by voters, bringing the budget for the second section to about $2.5 billion.
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 and possible private partnerships.
