I-405 over Sepulveda Pass between I-10 and US 101, which the proposed transit line will run parallel to, is the busiest highway corridor in the United States, serving 379,000 vehicles per day.[2]
Currently, LA Metro services the Sepulveda Pass corridor (which is essentially phase 1 of the Sepulveda Transit corridor) with bus Route 761, which uses Sepulveda Boulevard to traverse Sepulveda Pass. Its southern terminus is Expo/Sepulveda station on the E Line, and connects to the G Line at its Van Nuys station and Amtrak and Metrolink at their Van Nuys station, before terminating at Sylmar/San Fernando station. It takes about an hour to connect the E and G Lines.[3] Route 233 serves Sepulveda Pass at night.[4]
What is currently designated as phase 2 of the project is served by Culver CityBus lines 6 and Rapid 6 via Sepulveda Blvd, with the latter only operating weekdays. The lines' northern terminus is the UCLA Gateway Plaza (Westwood/Strathmore). Both lines 6 and Rapid 6 meet the aforementioned Metro 761 in Westwood Village at the Westwood Blvd/Weyburn Ave intersection and at the 761's southern terminus, the Metro E Line's Expo/Sepulveda station. The southern terminus is the Aviation/LAX C line station. As such, the lines indirectly serve LAX, requiring a transfer to a free shuttle bus that serves the station and LAX terminals. They will be rerouted to the LAX Metro Transit center station once it is open,[5] as the station will feature bus bays and direct connections to the LAX terminals by way of the LAX Automated People Mover.[6] Rapid 6 is unique in that it has traffic intersection signal priority in the City of Los Angeles,[7] whereas most agencies do not have signal priority outside of their base city. Line 6 completes its run as scheduled in 1 hour 4 minutes with average traffic while the Rapid 6 completes its run with 15 minute headways in 54 minutes as scheduled with average traffic.
Total transit time from the Aviation/LAX C Line station to the Van Nuys G Line Station with the aforementioned bus service is about 2 hours plus transfer time. The completion of both phases of this project is estimated to return a total transit time through the whole line of about 45 minutes.
Overview
Rail system map included in the official 1980 Proposition A election pamphlet, including the Sepulveda Transit Corridor
The line is a long-established goal in Los Angeles transit planning. Proposition A, which imposed a half-cent sales tax in Los Angeles County to fund a regional transit system, was passed in 1980, and a Sepulveda Pass line was in the project map that was part of the proposition's documentation.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has $10 billion in funds available for construction planned to begin in 2026.[8] 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 G Line's Van Nuys Station and the D Line Extension’s Wilshire/Westwood Station by 2035, and a planned extension to LAX with a 2059 completion date.[9][10] In April 2017, Metro issued a request for proposal to study alternatives, and several companies sent unsolicited proposals to accelerate the project via public-private partnerships.[11] The project's timeline could be accelerated under the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.[12]
A standalone heavy rail (HRT) line, primarily underground but possibly with some elevated sections in the Valley.
A continuation of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, primarily 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.[13]
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:[8]
Three routings for a heavy rail line, primarily underground but possibly with some elevated sections in the Valley.
In July 2019, Metro released a third refined rail concept after community input. These mainly covered the same routes but with a station added at Santa Monica Boulevard Station in reaction to public feedback. Both costs and ridership projections were higher for these proposals.
The feasibility study for both phases was completed and presented in November 2019,[14] with no significant refinement from the July 2019 presentation. The study said that additional research was needed on whether the project would need to relocate or maneuver around a nine-foot wide DWP water pipe called the "Sepulveda Feeder."[15] Additional studies were also called for on general station locations, tunnel design configuration, rider transfer patterns, and the identification of costs and cost reductions. The study also called for more information to be gathered on the impact of the Santa Monica Fault near Santa Monica Boulevard. The Metro Board then commenced the NEPA and CEQA scoping process.
Two engineering firms were chosen to prepare pre-development materials for the two potential modes. Monorail proposals were developed by BYD LA SkyRail Express, while heavy rail (HRT) work proposals were prepared by Bechtel.[16] By December 2021, six alternatives had been prepared for further consideration: three heavy rail and three monorail (one of which included a separate automated people mover to serve UCLA).[17]
Phase One: Valley–Westside
Initial alternatives analysis
In November 2021, the CEQA notice for the project alternatives was released, with an environmental scoping period to begin in February 2022. Rail options were refined to three monorail and three heavy rail alternatives. Monorail options 1 and 2 did not include a station on the UCLA campus and proposed connecting transit options instead. The new alternatives are being considered for the Draft Environmental Impact Report[18] north to south routes from the Valley to E Line were as follows:
Similar to Alt-1, A monorail line heading west from the Van Nuys Metrolink station then heads south on Sepulveda Boulevard. Eight total aerial station stops, similar to Metro C line stations on the center medians of a freeway. Stops include Van Nuys G Line station, US-101 freeway, and the Getty Center freeway entrance. Last three stations at Wilshire/I-405 (w/ APM to UCLA), Santa Monica Boulevard/I-405 and terminating at the Expo/Sepulveda station E Line. All along I-405. A 19-minute ride.
Similar to Alt-1 except with a tunnel, A monorail line heading west from the Van Nuys Metrolink station then heads south on Sepulveda Boulevard. Nine total stops, including the Van Nuys G Line station, US-101 freeway, and the Getty Center freeway entrance. A 3.3-mile underground tunnel between the Getty Center/I-405 station with a station at UCLA and at Wilshire boulevard. Returning to aerial south of Wilshire Boulevard. Last two stations at Santa Monica Boulevard/I-405 before terminating at the Expo/Sepulveda station E Line. A 19-minute ride.
A Heavy Rail Transit line on Sepulveda Blvd., aerial in the San Fernando Valley and underground south of the Santa Monica Mountains. Eight total stations, Four aerial in the Valley and four underground in the Westside area. Includes a station on the UCLA campus. Would make direct transfer stations out of Wilshire/Westwood Station on the D Line and at Expo/Sepulveda station on the E Line. A 14-minute ride.
A Heavy Rail Transit line on Sepulveda Blvd., same Alignment as Alt: 4, all underground except northern terminus Van Nuys Metrolink station. Seven total stations before terminating at the Expo/Sepulveda station E Line. It would be a 14-minute ride.
121,624
Alternative-6: HRT All Underground Van Nuys Blvd alignment[20]
A Heavy Rail Transit line down Van Nuys Blvd., Heads south from Van Nuys Metrolink station, all underground. Three stations in the Valley and four on the west side. The southern terminus would be Expo/Bundy station. Direct stations within UCLA, Wilshire/Westwood D line station. Seven total stations. It would be a 14-minute ride.
107,096
In April 2021, Metro advanced five routes to the next study stage, including three routes selected as part of Metro's public-private partnership solicitation for the line. The P3 proposals came from Bechtel and BYD Company, with Bechtel submitting the same heavy rail alignment and station proposals as HRT-4, and BYD submitting two monorail proposals that differed from the original MRT-1 alternative studied by Metro.[21]
Alternative details
The following table shows all potential metro stations and the alternatives for which they apply:
Three Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) options are being proposed.[24]
Monorail Maintenance and Storage Facility above existing Metro G Line Sepulveda Station Parking Lot. MRT 1, 2, and 3.
Van Nuys at Arminta. HRT 6.
Woodman at Van Nuys Metrolink Station. HRT 4 & 5.
Pre-development
In March 2021, Metro awarded contracts to two firms to develop two alternatives to advance the project. A plan for conventional heavy rail (HRT) is being developed by Bechtel. The rival design is a monorail as planned by BYD LA SkyRail Express (LASRE).[25]
A scoping process carried out by Metro from November 2021 to February 2022 showed a majority of the public favoring heavy rail over monorail, 93% to 7% respectively.[26] Heavy rail alternatives were cited by comments as having better transfer options to other lines, faster travel times, and more familiarity with the Los Angeles Metro Rail system.[27] Results of an official public opinion survey conducted by Metro during July and August 2022 to gauge public opinions about the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project were released in December 2022. After describing details of both rail types were presented to residents, an HRT underground option stood at 71% approval, with respondents citing shorter travel time and fewer surface impacts.[28]
The project is currently in the environmental review phase involving the development of an environmental impact report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and subsequently, an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Draft EIR will evaluate Project alternatives representing a range of rail transit modes, alignments, and station locations for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project. Once the draft EIR has been completed and circulated for public comment, Metro staff will recommend a locally preferred alternative (LPA) to the board of directors. After the LPA is identified, the final EIR, draft EIS, and final EIS will be prepared to complete the environmental review process.[29]
In October of 2023, Metro released ridership estimates for the six Sepulveda Line options, with the results greatly favoring the heavy rail option. Estimates showed that the heavy rail alternatives (4-6) not only had higher ridership than the monorail alternatives (1-3) by between 21,000 to 57,000 daily riders, but the heavy rail alternatives also were 8-14 minutes faster and had quicker connections to other lines in the LA Metro system, such as the D and E lines.[30] In addition, state assemblywoman Laura Friedman, chair of the California State Assembly Transportation Committee, implied her support the heavy rail alternatives, citing the monorail alternatives having their stations located in I-405 as well as the need for a station at UCLA.[31]
On July 3, 2024, Metro formally eliminated Alternative 2. This follows a request from LASRE for its elimination, along with Metro's independent review and public input in May 2024.[32]
Phase Two: Westside–LAX
Initial alternatives analysis
Early concepts for phase two from E Line to the (at the time unbuilt but now operational) K Line were released in 2019, with detailed connections to the under-construction LAX Automated People Mover.[1] Metro hopes to complete the feasibility study by 2019 and begin an environmental impact review along with phase one.[needs update]
Concepts include routing south along Sepulveda Boulevard, Overland Avenue, Centinela Avenue, and I-405, with possible intermediate stops at Venice Boulevard, Culver City Transit Center, the Howard Hughes Center, and Sepulveda Boulevard at Manchester Boulevard. The Sepulveda Boulevard route option would be completed as below-grade heavy rail, while the I-405 option could be completed as either a combination of elevated and below-grade heavy rail or a combination of elevated and below-grade monorail.[33]
Metro's July 2019 updated concepts for Phase 2 added a stop along Santa Monica Boulevard per public popular demand. They added the fifth concept, extending the east/west Purple Line Extension terminus south towards LAX, creating a one-seat HRT trip from LAX to Downtown Los Angeles along Centinela Avenue.[18]
All north-to-south routes from the E Line to LAX are:
A heavy rail transit (HRT) line heading south from the Expo/Sepulveda station on the I-405 median with an aerial stop at Venice Blvd/I-405. Leaves the aerial route and continues underground with stations on Centinela/Sepulveda and Manchester/Sepulveda near LAX. The southern terminus station is at LAX/Metro Transit Center station.[24] A 38-minute ride.
A heavy rail transit (HRT) line heading south underground from the Expo/Sepulveda station to Overland Avenue. Stations located on Overland/Venice Blvd. and Overland/Jefferson Blvd, Jefferson/Sepulveda, and Manchester/Sepulveda near LAX. The southern terminus station is at LAX/Metro Transit Center station.[24] A 31-minute ride.
Alternative 5's concept for the Westside-LAX phase of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project would extend the Purple Line subway south down Centinela Ave along the same route as the other proposed Centinela Ave concepts (Alt 2). This concept would provide a one-seat ride from the LAX Automated People Mover to Downtown Los Angeles but would require passengers from the San Fernando Valley to transfer at Westwood/UCLA station to travel further south.[33]
The second phase of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project is not due to break ground until 2048.
Advocacy
Transit advocates have proposed combining the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project and the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project into a single study to connect Sylmar, Van Nuys, the G Line, Sherman Oaks, UCLA, and the future Westwood/UCLA D 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.[35] Metro proposed a Centinela Avenue route to LAX or thru Sepulveda Boulevard. No studies have been allocated funds.
Phase 1 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.
^Alternatives 4 and 5 only differ in how they treat the Sherman Way, G Line, and Ventura Boulevard stations. Alternative 4 has them as elevated stations, while Alternative 5 lists them as underground.
