March 19, 2012 Dave Sotero/Marc Littman Metro Media Relations 213.922.3007/213.922.2700 metro.net/press/pressroom mediarelations@metro.

net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subway Project Milestone

L.A. METRO RELEASES FINAL EIS/EIR, HOLDS OPEN HOUSES FOR WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today released its Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/EIR) for the Westside Subway Extension Project. Metro has scheduled three community open houses March 26-29 throughout the proposed subway corridor to allow the public to learn more about the project and the report. The Westside Subway Extension, a Measure R transportation project, proposes to extend Los Angeles Metro Purple Line subway west from the Wilshire/Western station to the Westwood/VA area. The Final EIS/EIR contains recommendations for the nearly 9-mile subway alignment and seven station locations along the route. This includes a recommendation to locate the Century City station at Constellation and Avenue of the Stars, the Westwood/UCLA Station at Wilshire and Westwood Boulevards, and the nal station on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard at Bonsall near the Westwood/VA Hospital. The report also includes recommendations for environmental mitigations for the project. The completion of the Westside Subway Extensions nal environmental document marks a crucial milestone in Metros continuing efforts to extend the Purple Line from Wilshire/Western to Westwood," said L.A. City Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa. Its completion represents the culmination of more than four years of environmental study by Metro, and upon nal approval by the Metro Board, will help secure future federal funding as the agency moves into nal design. When built, this project will provide critically needed transportation options to and from the Westside that will benet all of L.A. County.

The Metro Board of Directors will consider the reports recommendations at its April 26, 2012 board meeting. Construction could begin in 2013. Based on the adopted funding schedule, the project will be built in three phases and be completed to the Westwood VA Hospital in 2036. Metro continues to seek creative nancing solutions that could potentially allow the subway to be built in one phase and completed in as little as ten years. Once built, riders will be able to travel from Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles to the Westwood/UCLA station in 25 minutes. More than 78,000 daily trips are projected on the new line. The report is now available at metro.net/westside or by visiting one of sixteen libaries throughout the project area. A list of these libraries is also available on metro.net/westside. Metro staff and consultants will be available at the open houses to clarify, provide further information, and answer questions on information contained in the Final EIS/EIR. Attendees will be able to view the exhibits at their own pace. The schedule for community open houses is as follows: Monday, March 26, 5-7:30 p.m., LACMA West - Terrace Room, 5th Floor, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Served by Metro Lines 20, 720, 217 & 780. Validated vehicle parking is available in the Museum's 6th Street underground garage. Enter from 6th and Ogden. Wednesday, March 28, 5-7:30 p.m., Westwood United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 3rd Floor, 10497 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Served by Metro Line 20. Free parking is available below Belmont Village, the building east of the Sanctuary. From Wilshire Boulevard, use the Belmont Village driveway and proceed under the overhang to the underground parking lot. Park on levels P2, P3 or P4 and take the church elevator in the southwest corner of the parking lot. There will be signs to direct attendees to the meeting room. Thursday, March 29, 5-7:30 p.m., Temple Emanuel Maltz Hall, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Served by Metro Lines 16, 316 and 220. Limited vehicle parking is available in the Temples underground garage off Herzl Way. Metered street parking is also available.

Content at each open house will be identical. Spanish translation will be provided at all meetings. Korean translation will be available at LACMA. Special ADA accommodations can be made available to the public for Metro-sponsored meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least

three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please call the project information line at 213-922-6934. The TDD line is 800-252-9040.