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Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) board approved "alternatives analysis" recommendations for the proposed Westside and Eastside extensions, and the Regional Connector project. LACMTA now will begin environmental reviews for the projects.

The Westside project calls for extending the Metro Purple and/or Red Line subway to Santa Monica. The board gave LACMTA the green light to study two alternatives for further environmental review: a Purple Line extension via Wilshire Boulevard and another extension that includes a Red Line spur in Hollywood via Santa Monica Boulevard.

The Eastside Phase 2 project proposes to further extend the Metro Gold Line Eastside project — now under construction and scheduled to open between downtown L.A. and East Los Angeles in mid-2009 — beyond a future Atlantic station terminus.

Finally, the Regional Transit Connector would link the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension with the 7th Street/Metro Center Blue Line Station and future Expo line.

The projects will be funded through Measure R, the county-wide, half-cent sales tax proposal approved by voters in November. LACMTA will begin collecting proceeds on July 1. The tax could fund up to $40 billion in transit, highway, pedestrian and bicycle improvements during the next 30 years.