Metro Rail Costs Jump $300 Million
Blaming the federal government, Los Angeles County transit officials announced Wednesday that the anticipated cost of building the second phase of the Red Line, or Metro Rail, subway has climbed by $300 million to $2.5 billion.
The projected opening of the 13-mile segment--extending from MacArthur Park to North Hollywood--will also be delayed four years, to 2001, said Neil Peterson, executive director of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.
Federal officials are not expected to complete their review of the project’s environmental effects until July, he said, noting that delays inevitably result in extra costs.
“Fast action to get a contract with the federal government is necessary to avoid further increases in the project,” Peterson added.
The commission hopes to obtain $1.4 billion from the federal government toward the second phase, of which $667 million is already promised.
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