Judge Postpones Funds Ruling on Metro Rail

A U.S. district judge on Wednesday postponed a ruling on whether federal funds for Los Angeles’ Metro Rail should be withheld until new environmental studies are completed.

After hearing arguments in Washington, Judge Joyce Hens Green said she expects to decide today or Friday whether to leave in place her order blocking release of $225.6 million in federal funds needed to build the first 4.4-mile segment of the transit line.

On Sept. 5, Green temporarily held up the funds after two Los Angeles groups opposed to the project--Taxpayers Watchdog Inc. and Rapid Transit Advocates Inc.--argued that the environmental impact statement approved for the project is no longer valid because it does not evaluate new Westside routes now under consideration.

Southern California Rapid Transit District lawyers on Wednesday argued that the first portion of the line is an independent project that meets downtown transportation needs. They stressed that the Urban Mass Transportation Administration approved it as a stand-alone project and has thus far refused to commit any of its funds to extending the line.