Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor

Rail system map included in the official 1980 Proposition A election pamphlet, including the Sepulveda Pass Corridor

The line was portrayed in the project map included in the 1980 Proposition A documentation.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has $10 billion in funds available for construction planned to begin in 2026.[4] The plan included in the Measure M transportation funding measure is to build improvements in three stages: additional lanes to be used for express bus service to open by 2028, an 8.8-mile (14.2 km) transit project between the Orange Line’s Van Nuys Station and the Purple Line Extension’s Wilshire/Westwood Station by 2035, and a planned extension to LAX with a 2059 completion date.[5][6] In April 2017, Metro issued a Request for Proposals to study alternatives, and several companies sent unsolicited proposals to accelerate the project via public-private partnerships.[7] The project's timeline is expected to be accelerated under the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.[8] The Metro Board of Directors in late 2019 will decide which concept routes to start the project's formal environmental studies.[9]

In June 2018, Metro released its initial six alternative rail concepts for the corridor. All of the proposals provided connections between the G Line (at Sepulveda, Van Nuys, or both) and the E Line (at Expo/Sepulveda or Expo/Bundy), as well as to the Westside extension of the D Line, currently under construction, and to the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, currently being planned. The proposals fell into four categories:

• A standalone heavy rail line, mostly underground but possibly with some elevated sections in the Valley.
• A continuation of the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor light rail, mostly underground but with a possible elevated spur to Sepulveda station.
• A monorail or rubber-tired metro line, underground on the Westside, elevated in the Valley, and running at grade or elevated along the 405.
• An further extension of the heavy rail D Line, with a wye that would allow direct connections between the Valley and the E Line as well as from both to downtown. This option would be mostly underground but could include elevated sections in the Valley.[10]

In January 2019, Metro released a refined second set of rail concepts for the corridor, eliminating light rail and rubber-tired metro technology from consideration and narrowing it down to four concepts:[4]

• Three routings for a heavy rail line, mostly underground but possibly with some elevated sections in the Valley.
• A monorail, underground on the Westside, elevated in the Valley along Sepulveda Blvd, and running at grade or elevated along the 405, terminating at the Van Nuys Metrolink station.

In July 2019, Metro released a third refined rail concept after community input.

• Mostly the same routes, per metro feedback, they added a Santa Monica Boulevard Station.
• Cost increase, ridership projection increases.

The feasibility study for both phases was completed and presented in November 2019,[11] with no major refinement from the July 2019 presentation. Per study, additional research is needed on identifying relocation or maneuvering around a nine foot wide DWP water pipe, called the "Sepulveda Feeder".[12] Additional studies on general station locations, tunnel design configuration, rider transfer patterns and identifying cost and cost reductions. Also, the study wants information on the impact of the known Santa Monica Fault near Santa Monica Boulevard. The Metro Board will commence the NEPA and CEQA scoping process.

Transit advocates have proposed combining the Van Nuys Transit Corridor and Sepulveda Pass Corridor into a single study with an aim to connect Sylmar, Van Nuys, the Orange Line, Sherman Oaks, UCLA, and the future Westwood/UCLA Purple Line station. Metro studies declined the LRT merge option and stated HRT would provide faster times and more occupancy on trains. Future extension phases south to the E Line, LAX, South Bay, or beyond are also being advocated and proposed.[19] Metro proposed a Centinela Avenue route to LAX or thru Sepulveda Boulevard. No studies have been allocated funds.

Phase one of the project is part of Metro's Twenty Eight by '28 initiative, which aims to complete its list of expansions in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.[1] Metro is looking into a public/private partnership to accelerate the opening.

Measure R and Measure M timelines call for construction to begin in 2043, though the first phase may be accelerated in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

• Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor
• Van Nuys Transit Corridor
• Measure R