From downtown news.

Gold Line Extension Gets $60 Million



Buried in the 3,000-page, $388 billion appropriations bill President George W. Bush signed last week was $60 million in federal funding for a Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension. The money is the first installment in a commitment that, over the next five years, should total $498 million - or half the project's $898.8 million price tag. The eight-station extension is a critical component in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's vision for a countywide light rail network, and will stretch six miles from Union Station through Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights to Atlantic Boulevard in East L.A. It is scheduled to open in late 2009, and will carry an estimated 23,000 daily riders.

Its great that the government is actually living up to their promise. I wish they gave LA a 25 Billion dollar gift for rail. so much could be done so fast. Thats a 10th of what they have spent in Iraq. God i get mad just thinking about it.

^Totally agree.

51% of the US budget goes towards the military. In other words, half of our taxes go towards slaughtering the people and tearing apart the infrastructure of another country. We spend more money brutally destroying things than building them. How does that make you feel?

If even 5% of that went into transportation infrastructure, several cities including LA could build out an entire metropolitan rail system

UP, seriously, my blood boils to think what LA, NY, Chicago, boston ,etc, could do with more money. we would ahve the top 4 cities in the world. Imagine LA with Suways all over the place, More cops, more money to fight pollution and to spur economic development and for after school programs,etc etc.

I agreed to them but expect for Bush.

I don't like to see Bush send low $$$ to L.A. for transportation, police, education, firefighter, hospital and road/highway.

I want L.A. have enough $$$ for afford anything are awesome because It is biggest city.

Bush, Please send small $$$ to NYC and Atlanta so it is equal to us. DO not worrying about anything in Texas. Texas is sooo horrible state to live.

Finally, a start!

Federal government is supposed to pay for that anyway. Transportation is heavily dependent of federal funds in every state.

The Bush Adminstration, ain't doing anything special, since these fuinds were earmarked since 1998 before they suspended Red Line expansion and turned the route(A much better alternative) into Light Rail