LACMTA preps to pursue federal funding for subway project's next phase

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) staff members are seeking the board's approval to begin pursuing a $1.1 billion federal grant and a $307 million federal loan to fund the Purple Line Extension's second phase.

The staff wants to begin the pursuit of a long-term Full Funding Grant Agreement through the Federal Transit Administration's "New Starts" program, as well as a low-interest loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program to fund the subway extension from its current terminus at Western Avenue to La Cienega Boulevard, according to a blog on LACMTA's website. The phase would include new stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega.

The target date for completion of the second phase would be 2025, a year earlier than the original target date, the blog stated. The board is scheduled to consider the recommendation at its Oct. 2 meeting.

Earlier this year, LACMTA received $2.1 billion in federal grants and loans for the Purple Line Extension's first phase, and selected a contractor to build the project. The Purple Line Extension will extend the Purple Line subway service from the Wilshire/Western Station to L.A.'s Westside.