LaHood announces $135 million grant for Calif. light rail expansion

By Keith Laing - 01/07/13 03:22 PM ET

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Monday that the Department of Transportation was awarding $135 million to a proposed light rail expansion project in Sacramento, Calif.

The money is intended to help Sacramento's Regional Transit (RT) District extend the city's light rail system by 4.3 miles to a college in the southern part of California's capital city.

LaHood traveled to Sacramento on Monday to make the announcement.

"The Obama administration is committed to helping the Sacramento area create a modern, efficient transportation network to spur new economic development and reduce congestion in the region,” he said in statement released by the DOT. “Across America, we’re investing in projects like this one that are built to last and keep our economy moving forward.”

The total cost of the Sacramento light rail extension is expected to be $270 million. The project will add four new stations to the RT's Blue Line. The project is expected to be completed in September 2015.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said the expansion "will help thousands of Cosumnes students spend less at the pump, and will spur retail and residential development at the new Morrison Creek Station and beyond."

"California’s capital region needs robust transportation choices to ensure that current and future generations have ready and affordable access to jobs, education, medical appointments and more,” Rogoff said.

The FTA said it provided $111.2 million to the development of the original length of the Sacramento light rail system, which the agency said amounted to half the cost of the project's construction.