The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) approved the draft environmental impact reports for the both the USD 4.2bn Westside Subway Extension on the city’s Purple Line on 28 October.
This also confirmed the locally preferred alternative route recommended by Metro staff, which includes the approximately 9mi (14.5km) extension to Westwood/VA Hospital along busy Wilshire corridor. Stops are proposed at Fairfax Avenue, La Cienega Boulevard, Century City, Westwood-UCLA, and the Veterans Affairs’ campus.
Beverly Hills officials and residents are concerned about tunnelling under the city’s high school and homes, and had expressed support for the Westside Extension, just not this particular route as Metro had been considering four other options.
“We want to work with the experts and do everything we can,” said Lisa Korbatov, the school board’s vice president, after it had been confirmed the district had hired a lawyer. “But if it comes down to a lawsuit, we won’t shy away from it.”
Construction could begin in 2013, with completion of the subway to the Westwood area by 2022 if Metro is successful in securing advance federal funding.
At the same time, Metro approved the recommended route for the USD 1.25bn Regional Connector Project, a nearly 2mi (3.2km) fully underground light rail line connecting the Gold, Blue and future Expo Lines through downtown LA. Construction could begin in 2014 and be completed by 2019, again depending on funding.
Both projects will now enter final environmental review and preliminary engineering.
