FTA approves $490M for L.A. light rail extension

The Federal Transit Administration approved $490.7 million in federal funding for a six-mile extension of a light rail line from downtown to east Los Angeles. The funding agreement will allow the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to execute a construction contract to begin the $898.8 million extension of the Metro Gold Line. "This is truly a historic day for Los Angeles," said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. The extension will include eight stations and serve one of the most densely populated areas of Los Angeles County. Service is expected to begin in mid-2009.