Metro's Purple Line continues westward push

MIRACLE MILE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Metro's Purple Line subway extension into Beverly Hills is one step closer to completion, but the nearly $3 billion project won't be done until 2023.

The pounding beat of traditional Korean drums kicked off the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday. The Purple Line subway extension is expected to take riders right down Wilshire Boulevard through the heart of Koreatown and into Beverly Hills.

"Here in Los Angeles, where the car has been king for so long, we're now sharing the roads and sharing the space," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The mayor said he wants L.A. to be a "multi-modal city" that accommodates commuters who want to walk, bike, ride on the subways or even stay in their cars.

Garcetti joined a prestigious group on stage at the event. Local, state and national leaders who all played a role in getting this phase of the Purple Line underway, attended the ceremony.

No one played a bigger role than retiring L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

"This is a historic day for the Westside. We have not had mass transit in the Westside since the Red Car was dismantled 60 years ago, and now we have two lines that are under construction," Yaroslavsky said.

Getting this far in the project took billions of dollars, with a large chunk coming from federal money. There is some concern that Tuesday's election results that put Republicans in charge of both the House and Senate may mean less money in the future.

"Although this has a full funding grant agreement, no one should take anything for granted. So the reason I'm here is to say as a city girl, I've learned a lot about cities, and I want to stay the course on this one," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Lawmakers promise to fight for every dollar - they'll have to. The long-term goal for planners is to build the subway all the way to Westwood. It's a grand dream that will take years and billions of dollars.