East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor


The East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor is a proposed light rail transit corridor in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, running on a north/south route along Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road. Metro selected its preferred route as light rail without tunneling, "Alternative Six". The final Environmental Impact Report is currently in progress and the light rail line is scheduled for construction in 2021 with a completion of 2027.
The project is being planned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The line has been given high priority by Metro in its long range plan, and funding for the project is included in Measure R and Measure M.
The project's timeline was accelerated under the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.
In June 2018, Metro staff recommended the corridor be built as an at-grade rail line, making it a part of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system.

Overview

The northern end to the proposed line is the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station, and the southern end would be the Orange Line's Van Nuys Station, providing intermediate connections to Metrolink and Amtrak at the Van Nuys Metrolink station. The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor to the Westside is expected to connect to this line at the Van Nuys Metrolink station. The Metro staff recommendation included 14 stations for the line.
The Draft Environmental Impact Report was completed and released in September 2017. Planning for the ESFVTC will take into consideration other major planned infrastructure projects, including a Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor rail link and the conversion of the Orange Line BRT to light rail.

History

Six initial alternatives were developed during the environmental review process:
DEIR AlternativeDescriptionNew tripsEstimated cost
Alternative 1No buildN/AN/A
Alternative 2Transportation system managementN/AN/A
Alternative 3Curb-running bus rapid transit 30,900$0.294
Alternative 4Median-running BRT31,500$0.402
Alternative 5Median-running light rail transit with low-floor vehicles35,800$1.3
Alternative 6Median-running LRT with high platform stations and some underground portions47,400$2.79

Route Selection: Alternative Six

In June 2018, Metro staff recommended a modified version of Alternative 6, using high-floor light rail vehicles like those on other Metro Rail lines but entirely on the street.
Metro approved the project with $1.3 billion in funds, initiating the final EIR. The northern terminus will be the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station. The light rail train will run southeast for two and a half miles on San Fernando Road to Van Nuys Boulevard. It then heads south on Van Nuys Boulevard for five miles reaching the Van Nuys Metrolink station. Its southern terminus will be the Van Nuys Orange Line station near L.A.'s Van Nuys City Hall two miles further south.
StationCity/NeighborhoodConnecting
rail services
Sylmar/San FernandoSylmar Metrolink:
MaclaySan Fernando
PaxtonPacoima
Van Nuys/San FernandoPacoima
Laurel CanyonPacoima
ArletaArleta
WoodmanArleta
NordhoffPanorama City
Roscoe StationPanorama City
Van Nuys Metrolink/AmtrakVan NuysConnection to Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner & Coast Starlight, Metrolink:
Possible future terminus of the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor
Sherman WayVan Nuys
VanowenVan Nuys
VictoryVan Nuys
Van NuysVan NuysConnection to
Possible future terminus of the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor

Construction

Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2021. Ridership is anticipated by late 2027. Funds are being acquired. $800 million from measure M, $200 million from SB1 gas tax and $200 million from other state-level sources.