Light-rail project gets final piece of funding
The California Transportation Commission on Wednesday approved a crucial piece of funding for construction of the Exposition Line light-rail line, committing the final $314 million needed to build the project.
“It’s good news. And it’s good to see the state keeping its promises,” said David Yale, director of regional planning for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Major construction on the 8.6-mile route between downtown Los Angeles and Culver City began in August and is expected to be completed in 2010. The line will cost about $640 million to build.
The state commission also approved a $7.6-million project to widen the Century Freeway as it approaches Sepulveda Boulevard, a familiar bottleneck encountered by motorists heading to the Los Angeles International Airport.
The Sepulveda offramp will also be widened from two lanes to three.
The project should alleviate some of the traffic backups on the freeway, Yale said.
Construction could begin by mid-2008, and is expected to be completed by October 2009, said Dave Sotero, an MTA spokesman.
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