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Project Profile: Westside Purple Line Extension, Section 1

Westside Purple Line Extension, Section 1

photo credit: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Location

Los Angeles, California

Project Borrower / Sponsor

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)

Program Area

Alternative Project DeliveryProject FinanceValue CaptureTIFIA

Value Capture Techniques Sales Tax Districts
Mode

Heavy Rail Transit

Description

The Purple Line Extension (formerly known as the Westside Subway Extension) is the extension of the Purple Line from its current terminus at Wilshire/Western nine miles to Los Angeles' "second downtown" through the neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Century City, and Westwood. The new line will ultimately add seven stations upon the completion of all three sections of the project using the design-build delivery method: Section 1 is a 3.9-mile long segment along the Miracle Mile to Wilshire and La Cienega Boulevards (including three stations), Section 2 is 2.6 miles from La Cienega to Century City (including two stations), and Section 3 is a 2.9-mile section through Westwood to the VA Hospital. The extension will consist of twin tunnels approximately 20 feet wide, located 50-70 feet underground. The tunnels will be constructed using the cut and cover method.

Section 1 stations will be located at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega. Section 1 also includes the procurement of 34 new heavy rail vehicles compatible with the existing system and improvements to existing Division 20 Rail Maintenance and Storage Yard to accommodate additional vehicles.

Cost

$2.950 billion (Section 1)

Funding Sources

Federal Sources

  • TIFIA loan - $856 million
  • FTA New Starts Grant - $1.25 billion
  • CMAQ - $12 million

Local Sources

  • Measure R local sales tax - $757 million
  • City of Los Angeles - $75 million
Project Delivery / Contract Method

Design-build

Private Partner

Design-builder - Skanska, Traylor, Shea (STS)

  • Skanska USA Civil West California District, Inc.
  • Traylor Bros., Inc.
  • J.F. Shea Construction, Inc.
  • Parsons Corporation - lead designer
  • L.K. Comstock National Transit - systems design and installation
Project Advisors / Consultants

To LA Metro

  • Financial Advisor - The PFM Group
  • Legal Advisor - Fulbright & Jaworski

To USDOT TIFIA JPO

  • TIFIA Legal Advisor - Squire Sanders
  • TIFIA Financial Advisor - Infrastructure Management Group
Lenders

USDOT TIFIA

Duration / Status

Construction of Section 1 began in January 2015.

Substantial completion of Section I is anticipated in November 2023 with operations starting in 2024.

TIFIA Credit Assistance

Direct Loan - $856 million

TIFIA loan will be repaid with Measure R local retail sales tax revenue.

Financial Status / Financial Performance

TIFIA credit agreement was executed on May 21, 2014.

Financial close occurred on May 21, 2014.

Innovations
  • Approximately 55 percent of the project budget is funded from voter-approved sales tax measures devoted to transit projects, which will be used for project expenditures and to repay the TIFIA loan.
Related Links / Articles

LA Metro Purple Line Extension Project Website

LA Metro Program Management Dashboard

Contacts

Metro Purple Line Extension
Tel: (213) 922-6934
purplelineext@metro.net

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