L.A. Metro breaks ground on final Purple Line extension section

May 25, 2021
The third section of the project will include two stations, extend the line more than 2.5 miles and connect Los Angeles and the Westside.

The third and final phase of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (L.A. Metro) Purple (D Line) Extension began with a ceremonial groundbreaking held on May 24.

The 2.5-mile, $3.6-billion project will build two new stations and connect Century City with Westwood/VA Hospital. Once the third phase is completed in 2027, Los Angeles and the Westside will be connected through nine miles of subway.

L.A. Metro is actively building the first two sections of the project with the 3.92-mile Section 1 breaking ground in 2014 and the 2.59-mile Section 2 breaking ground in 2018.

“The Purple Line Expansion is the key that will unlock our transportation future and open doors of opportunity across our city -- and today’s groundbreaking moves us one step closer to completely redefining our relationship with public transit,” said L.A. City Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti. “We promised Angelenos a world-class transit system when we passed Measure M, and this milestone is a clear indication of our commitment to make Los Angeles a more accessible, sustainable and inclusive city.”

The entire project is estimated to cost $9.5 billion with nearly half of the total project cost provided through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants Program and the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program. Section 3 secured a $1.3-billion grant in 2020, Section 2 secured a $1.2-billion CIG Program grant along with a $307-million TIFIA loan and Section 1 received a $1.2-billion CIG Program loan and $856-million TIFIA loan.

“The Federal Transit Administration is proud to partner with Metro and the entire Los Angeles region to bring more transportation options to residents, veterans, students and visitors to the 2028 Summer Olympics through the Purple Line extension,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “This project is an excellent example of a transformational infrastructure investment that the Biden-Harris Administration supports. It will improve access and mobility for millions of people traveling in one of Los Angeles County’s most congested corridors.”

“Once completed, the Purple Line extension will not only ease the burden of commuting for tens of thousands of Angelenos, but it will also improve connectivity for veterans across the region traveling to and from the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). “I’m proud to see federal funding complement the great work that L.A. Metro is doing to bring the Purple Line to Westwood, and I look forward to working in Congress to bring additional federal resources needed to improve transportation in the greater Los Angeles region.”

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content. 

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.  

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.