Los Angeles will receive its largest-ever federal grant, $1.25 billion, to help fund the Purple Line subway, aka the "Subway to the Sea." Also on its way is an $856 million loan from the TIFIA program.

"A major federal grant of $1.25 billion to extend the 'Subway to the Sea' was received by local officials Wednesday as part of an overall $2.1 billion package made possible by voter approval of the half-cent sales tax in Measure R," reports Rick Orlov.
Funding acquired by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) earlier this week also includes an $856-million low-interest loan for the project, which will extend the existing Purple Line. The loan was made possible by the local sales tax approved by Measure R in 2008 and an America Fast Forward, TIFIA-backed loan. The loan will serve as a local match for the grant, according to Orlov.
For the record, "Subway to the Sea" is a misnomer—left-over from earlier marketing pitches for the line. According to the current plan for the subway, the route would end at the Veterans Administration campus in West Los Angeles.
Steve Hymon also reports on Metro's recent windfall, including additional details about the federal funding acquired for the Purple Line and the Regional Connector.
According to Hymon, the $1.2 billion grant will come from the New Starts program, while the "$856-million loan is coming from the TIFIA program that helps provide low-interest loans backed by the federal government to build new infrastructure; TIFIA helps reduce interest costs."
This is Metro's second big funding win of the year. In February, Metro "secured a $670-million New Starts grant and $160-million TIFIA loan…to help fund construction of the Regional Connector, a 1.9-mile underground light rail line that will connect the Blue Line, Expo Line and Gold Line in downtown Los Angeles to speed trips throughout the county and to downtown."
FULL STORY: Los Angeles officials laud $1.25 billion federal grant for Purple Line

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont