Metro Approves Exposition Light Rail Transit Project Funding Plan

• Funding Plan Keeps Project on Accelerated Schedule for June 2010 Completion

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors today approved a $640 million full funding plan for construction of the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project, which would operate from downtown Los Angeles to Venice/Robertson Boulevards in Culver City. The plan includes the use of local funding instead of federal New Starts funding, thereby keeping the project on an accelerated schedule for a June 2010 completion.

"The Expo project will have great significance for L.A.'s westside and the region," said Frank Roberts, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board Chair. "In addition to providing an east-west commuting option through the heart of Los Angeles, this line will link users to the rest of the Metro Rail System and aid Los Angeles County in its ongoing efforts to meet some of the nation's most stringent air quality requirements."

The funding plan anticipates the use of $127.5 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds, $90.3 million in Proposition C 25% funds, $9.8 in federal Transportation Enhancements Activities (TEA) funds, $15 million in other federal disretionary funds, and up to $50 million in local contributions from cities and private stakeholders along the route.

These proposed new funding sources will augment existing funding committements, including $87.5 million in CMAQ funds; $240.9 million in Proposition C 25% transit-related highway funds; $3.8 million in federal TEA funds; $4.2 million in Proposition C 10% funds (commuter rail/transit centers); and $11.0 million in state funds from the Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP).

"In recent years the nationwide competition for federal New Starts funding has grown considerably and the Federal Transit Administration's evaluation process for this funding has become very time consuming," said Rick Thorpe, Metro's chief capital management officer. "This new funding plan allows us to complete the project and bring relief to one of the County's most congested corridors three to five years sooner."

The Exposition Light Rail Project will provide significant transportation improvements that will directly benefit the cities of Los Angeles and Culver City.

Next steps include issuance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (FEIS/FEIR), followed by the receipt of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project from the Federal Transit Administration. FTA environmental clearance (as represented by issuance of the ROD) is needed to enable the Exposition Construction Authority to award a contract for design and construction of the project beginning in early 2006.

The 9.6-mile Exposition light rail line will share common track and two stations (7^th St./Metro Center and Pico/Chick Hearn) with the Metro Blue Line as it leaves downtown Los Angeles. Just south of downtown the line will proceed west on the Metro-owned rail right-of-way on Exposition Boulevard, which parallels the heavily congested I-10 Freeway, with a terminus at Venice/Robertson.

Approximately eight new stations will be constructed between downtown L.A. and Culver City. A future second phase would extend the Exposition line to the City of Santa Monica.

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