Panel Backs $51 Million for Subway
A key U.S. Senate panel Tuesday recommended a $51- million federal appropriation in the coming year for subway extensions to North Hollywood and Boyle Heights.
A House committee previously recommended a $76-million appropriation, meaning that if Congress follows its past practice of splitting the difference, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would receive about $63.3 million.
That would be less than the $100 million requested by the agency, but acting MTA chief Linda Bohlinger said Tuesday that it would be enough to keep the subway project on track because the agency has set aside a healthy reserve fund.
MTA officials were pleased with the proposed appropriation, considering the agency was scp;ded bu federal officials last year for its opeations. U.S. taxpayers are paying about half of the $6.1-billion subway project.
Congress last year provided the MTA with $70 million-the lowest amount in three years-forcing a delay in the completion of extensions to the Eastside until 2004 and to the Mid-City area until at least 2008. The North Hollywood extension is scheduled to open in 2000.
A final decision on federal funding is expected in September.
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