The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority announced on Friday that it has received federal approval to seek funding for the design and construction of the Purple Line extension.
Most of the construction will be paid for by Measure R (a half-cent transportation sales tax approved by voters in 2008), but the Federal Transit Administration's approval allows Metro to request federal funds. The FTA's certification also means that the $5.6 billion project meets federal environmental guidelines.
The nine-mile extension is projected to add about 78,000 new daily rail trips through seven stations to Westwood.
City News Service contributed to this report.
