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On July 17, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA MTA) broke ground on the six-mile Metro Gold Line Eastside extension that will connect downtown L.A.’s Union Station with Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles.

Scheduled to open in late 2009, the extension includes eight stations with stops at Little Tokyo/Arts District, Pico/Aliso, Mariachi Plaza, Soto Street, Indiana, Maravilla, East L.A. Civic Center and Pomona/Atlantic. A 1.8-mile section through Boyle Heights to be constructed underground will include two of the stations; the remainder of the line will be built at street level.

Authority officials expect the extension will serve 23,000 daily passengers by 2020.

In June, the Federal Transit Administration approved a $490.7 million Full Funding Grant Agreement for the $898.8 million project. The remainder will be paid with state and local funds. LA MTA last month awarded a $600.4 million contract to Eastside LRT Constructors, a joint venture comprising Washington Group International, Obayashi Corp. and Shimmick Construction Corp.