Overview

Metro is one step closer to extending the Purple Line to the Westside. On October 28, 2010 the Metro Board of Directors approved the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/EIR) and selected the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Westside Subway Extension. This vote also authorized Metro staff to begin the final phase of the planning process for the Subway – the Final EIS/EIR and Preliminary Engineering (PE).

The Westside Subway Extension is one of Metro’s priority projects. It will provide a high-capacity, high-speed, dependable alternative for those traveling to LA’s “second downtown” that includes key destinations such as Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood, including the UCLA campus. Over 300,000 people travel into the Westside every day for work from areas throughout the County and beyond.

The Westside Subway Extension project is slated to receive partial funding from Measure R, approved by voters in November 2008. These local funds will be used to seek federal “New Starts” matching funds. Completion of the Final EIS/EIR and Preliminary Engineering will make the project eligible to compete for these funds. The Long Range Transportation Plan for Los Angeles County commits $4.2 billion (in 2009 dollars) over the next 30 years to building the project.

With the nexus of funding availability and community support for the subway, Los Angeles is closer than ever to making this long-awaited project a reality, connecting the Westside to the region's growing rail transit network, and improving mobility for everyone who lives, works and plays throughout Los Angeles County.

Please look through our web site for information about what we have been studying, information we have shared with the public, how to follow the continuing planning work, and how to share your thoughts and questions with us.