Funding for Leimert Park and Westchester stations on Crenshaw Line to be discussed in special City Council session on Wednesday

Evidently, Mayor Villaraigosa is putting his Measure R money where his mouth is.

Last Friday, the Los Angeles Sentinel reported that Villaraigosa had made a strong commitment to building a Leimert Park station on the upcoming Crenshaw Line — something that has long been demanded by local rail advocates and civic leaders, including County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

To many — myself included — the idea of a train line bypassing one of L.A.'s most vibrant and historic neighborhoods in the heart of South L.A. made no more sense than it would to bypass Pasadena or Century City.

Or LAX, for that matter, in a classic error the Crenshaw Line is being built to rectify, as least in part.

Now the city has reportedly identified $40 million in Measure R funds that could be used to build a Leimert Park station, as well as another $15 million for a station in Westchester.

As Curbed LA pointed out yesterday, the original concept for a Leimert Park station called for an underground design at a cost of over $130 million; the new $40 million price tag suggests that some major design changes are in the works. Or possibly, that they've found a contractor who is willing to build it for that price.

The matter will be taken up in a special session of the L.A. City Council at City Hall on Wednesday, beginning immediately after the regular session is concluded. Hopefully, we'll learn more then.

Full details in this report from the City Administrative Officer on issuing Measure R bonds for the two stations.

MEASURE R BOND ISSUANCE- LEIMERT PARK AND WESTCHESTER RAIL STATIONS