Federal officials to announce $1.25 billion grant for L.A. subway project

Today, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), other federal officials and Los Angeles representatives are expected to announce the execution of a $1.25 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) Purple Line Extension subway project's first phase.

Also scheduled to attend the event with Boxer — who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works — are U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.); U.S. Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.); U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; and LACMTA representatives, according to an announcement issued by Boxer's office.

The project will be partially funded through an $856 million loan made possible through the expanded Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, according to the statement. The expanded TIFIA program was included in the MAP-21 transportation bill, which was sponsored by Boxer and signed into law in July 2012.

The project will extend LACMTA's Purple Line subway nine miles west from the Wilshire/Western terminus and add seven new stations.