advertisement

---

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) a record of decision for the $5.6 billion Westside Subway Extension, which officially certifies that the project has met federal guidelines for environmental analysis.

Issued Aug. 9, the FTA decision was necessary for LACMTA to seek federal funding for the final design and construction of the nine-mile extension of the Metro Purple Line subway from the Wilshire/Western to the Westwood/VA Hospital, LACMTA officials said in a prepared statement.

About 75 percent of the project cost will be funded by the state’s Measure R sales tax. With the record-of-decision in hand, LACMTA officials now can request the initiation of final design and begin discussions with FTA officials to secure a full funding grant agreement.

The new subway line will include seven new stations. When completed, riders will be able to travel between downtown Los Angeles and the Westwood/UCLA Station in about 25 minutes.

Preparation for preconstruction of the project’s first phase is under way. Initial utility relocation work could begin later this month or in early fall. The entire line could open as early as 2022 if efforts to accelerate project funding are successful, LACMTA officials said.