FTA to provide FY2018 capital grants for four transit-rail projects

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced $281 million in additional fiscal-year 2018 funding through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program for four transit-rail projects and one bus rapid transit project.

The rail projects include the Tempe Streetcar; the Los Angeles Westside Purple Line Section 3; San Diego Mid-Coast light-rail project; and Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) Red and Blue line platform extensions.

The $201.9 million Tempe project involves a 3-mile streetcar system with 14 stations that will connect downtown Tempe and Arizona State University, and link with existing light-rail lines serving Phoenix, Mesa and the area’s airport. The project will receive $75 million in funding requested through the CIG program. After final FTA approval is issued for a construction grant agreement, the project will receive $25 million in FY18 CIG funds.

The $3.7 billion Los Angeles Westside Purple Line Section 3 project involves a 2.6-mile, two-station heavy rail extension from Century City to Westwood, California. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has requested $1.3 billion in funding through the CIG program, and upon final FTA approval of a construction grant agreement, the project will receive $100 million in FY18 CIG funds.

Metro anticipates a federal grant agreement in early 2019 with construction starting on Section 3 sometime next year.

“The FTA’s allocation is a strong sign that our subway extension project remains on track to receive federal funding,” said Metro Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington in a press release.

The $2.17 billion San Diego Mid-Coast Corridor light-rail project involves a 10.9-mile extension from downtown San Diego to the growing University City area. The FTA announced a $1 billion grant agreement for the project in September 2016 and it will receive an additional $80 million in FY18 CIG funds.

Finally, DART’s $128.7 million platform work calls for extending and modifying platforms along the Red and Blue lines to accommodate three-car trains with level boarding. About $60.7 million has been requested through the CIG program, and upon final FTA approval of a construction grant agreement, the project will receive $2 million in FY18 CIG funds.

Since Jan. 20, 2017, the FTA has advanced CIG funding for 17 projects totaling about $4.8 billion in funding commitments. The administration expects to execute 13 CIG funding agreements seeking $3.3 billion by year’s end. The FTA so far has allocated $1.86 billion of the $2.62 billion in FY18 CIG funds appropriated by Congress.