The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke ground Monday on a 6.7-mile light rail project that will run along Van Nuys Boulevard, marking the first local-stop commuter service to roll down the corridor in more than 70 years.
Officials said the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit project will expand transit access to jobs, schools, health care facilities and local businesses, and is part of a broader plan by the regional transit agency to improve mobility throughout the valley.
It’s slated for operation in October 2031.
Once online, the project will run along Van Nuys Boulevard through densely populated communities such as Van Nuys, Arleta and Pacoima. According to Metro, roughly 19% of households in the project corridor are fully transit- dependent, meaning they are without a personal vehicle, compared to just 8% in LA County as a whole.
It will also directly connect with existing regional transit networks such as Metrolink, Amtrak and the Metro G (Orange) Line.
“The East San Fernando Valley deserves an affordable and safe transit system that provides reliable access to jobs, health care, schools and local businesses — I’m proud that Metro’s Light Rail Transit Project will deliver just that,” Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.
The project includes 11 new at-grade light rail stations, featuring modern shade structures and safety improvements, such as ADA-compliant sidewalks, safer pedestrian crossings and improved roadway designs.
Stations will be located approximately three-quarters of a mile apart at the following sections: Van Nuys Metro G Line, Victory, Vanowen, Sherman Way, Van Nuys Metrolink, Roscoe, Nordhoff, Woodman, Arleta, Laurel Canyon and San Fernando.
“This Metro investment is a game changer for our community,” Metro Board Member and LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. ”Our Valley residents deserve faster, easier, and safer connections between Van Nuys and San Fernando, enhancing access to jobs, healthcare, and essential services throughout the Valley.’
Metro officials said construction and operations are projected to create more than 18,000 direct and indirect jobs for the local economy. Metro is using a dedicated project labor agreement/construction careers policy to guarantee that good-paying construction jobs go to local residents.
The agency is expected to offer financial aid for local “mom and pop” shops through its Business Interruption Fund as an effort to mitigate construction impacts.
“As someone who grew up in the Valley, I know how much reliable public transportation means to our families. Bringing rail back to Van Nuys Boulevard after more than 70 years is about more than connecting people to jobs, schools, and essential services: It is about creating new opportunities for our residents, supporting our local businesses, and making sure the communities that have called this corridor home for generations are part of its future,” said Metro Board Member and City Councilwoman Imelda Padilla, who represents the Van Nuys area.
Construction costs are estimated at nearly $4 billion, and are expected to be funded through a variety of federal, state and local sources, as well as the voter-approved sales tax, Measure M.
Metro secured an $893 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to finalize the project’s overarching funding layout. The grant marks the first Full Funding Grant Agreement executed under the Federal Transit Administration’s Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program, which uses federal channels to speed up major fixed-guideway capital builds.
“The San Fernando Valley is key for Metro in creating a connected Los Angeles County,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. “We want to improve access and mobility for the diverse communities along the route who depend on transit.
“The new East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project is a huge step in providing access to jobs and the economic boost from the project will benefit local residents and the economy,” Wiggins added.
