Congress voted Wednesday to repeal a 20-year-old prohibition against using federal money to tunnel under the Wilshire Corridor, removing another hurdle from Los Angeles’ proposed “subway to the sea,” the Daily Breeze reports/
The repeal was part of a $106 billion transportation bill that includes $70 million for the Los Angeles Metro Gold Line Eastside Rail extension, and $1 million for rail improvements as part of the Alameda Corridor East project.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who with Sen. Barbara Boxer inserted the tunnel language, said the bill’s 88-7 vote brings the 13.2-mile Red Line expansion closer to reality. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority support building the estimated $4 billion extension.
“It’s time to give the commuters of Los Angeles relief from the severe gridlock they face every day,” Feinstein said.
The bill does not include any money for the proposed subway project, which would extend the Red Line subway to Santa Monica. But it does remove its biggest roadblock – a restriction against federal funds placed into 1986 legislation.
