A $546-million federal loan that will enable Metro to more quickly build an 8.5-mile light rail line in the Crenshaw District was announced today by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). It is the first federal funding received for a Measure R transit project and will accelerate the schedule for completion [continue reading]
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has just announced a major step forward in funding the 30/10 initiative with the announcement of a federal TIFIA TIGER II loan of $546 million for the Crenshaw / LAX Transit Corridor project. The loan would be paid back using Measure R funds. More details [continue reading]
One of the Measure R projects that has received fairly little attention is the West Santa Ana Branch corridor. It’s an old Pacific Electric right-of-way that runs for 20 miles between Paramount and Santa Ana that is owned by Metro in Los Angeles County and OCTA in Orange County. The [continue reading]
The westbound carpool lane along the Pomona Freeway that runs 11.5 miles between the I-605 and the Orange Freeway (SR-57) opened to traffic this morning, completing a $122.6-million HOV lane project. The 11.5-mile eastbound carpool lane opened Sept. 27. Construction involved the widening of several on- and off-ramps and construction of [continue reading]
Attentive readers know that Metro staff this week issued their recommended route for the Westside Subway Extension: basically a route that follows Wilshire Boulevard west, swings south to Century City and then back to Wilshire and ending at a station near the VA Hospital in Westwood. Staff also said that [continue reading]
The Metro staff recommendations for a locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the Regional Connector have also been posted online today. Unlike the subway project, Metro staff had already recommended building the fully underground option as part of the project’s draft environmental impact statement/report (DEIS/R). There is one bit of news, [continue reading]
Metro staff have issued their recommendations for a locally preferred alternative (LPA) route for the Westside Subway Extension. The project’s draft environmental impact statement/report was released last month. The full report is posted as part of the Metro Board of Directors’ agendas for its planning and Measure R committees. It [continue reading]
Here is video of some remarks that President Barack Obama made on Monday following his meeting at the White House about improving transportation infrastructure. As we posted yesterday, Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Director Antonio Villaraigosa attended the meeting to discuss the 30/10 Initiative, Metro’s plan to build a dozen [continue reading]
Two agencies recently voted to endorse the 30/10 Initiative. Neither are a surprise. But it’s good to see more on board with the plan to speed up construction of Measure R projects because influencing Congress to approve elements of 30/10 will not be easy and the more local support, the [continue reading]
President Barack Obama held a meeting at the White House this morning on investing in the nation’s infrastructure — a follow-up to his Labor Day announcement of a plan to rebuild the country’s roads and rails. Among those in attendance was Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraiogosa, who also serves on [continue reading]
