The San Fernando Valley is officially getting its first-ever light rail line, and the project's major construction phase has officially begun.
L.A. Metro has awarded a $2.43 billion construction contract for the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, the Valley's first light rail line. The 6.7-mile route will run along Van Nuys Boulevard from Van Nuys to Pacoima, featuring 11 stations with a target completion of 2031.
The San Fernando Valley is officially getting its first-ever light rail line, and the project's major construction phase has officially begun.
L.A. Metro has awarded a $2.43 billion construction contract for the first phase of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. The contract covers everything from utility relocation and pre-construction work to the actual tracks and stations along Van Nuys Boulevard. While early construction has already been underway, this latest award moves the project into its major construction phase.
The first phase will run 6.7 miles along Van Nuys Boulevard, from the Metro G Line's Van Nuys Station to Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road in Pacoima. The line will operate at street level in the center of the boulevard, with tracks separated from regular vehicle lanes.
Plans call for 11 center-platform stations, serving areas near the following destinations:
For Pacoima residents, the final stop at Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road will provide a long-sought direct rail connection to the rest of the Valley.
The broader project is estimated to cost billions and is being funded through a combination of L.A. Metro's local Measure M and Measure R funding, state money, and federal support. That includes $1.5 billion in federal funding and $600 million from California's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program.
The project will include 33 electric light-rail vehicles and a 21-acre maintenance and storage facility. Metro estimates trains will arrive every 7 to 10 minutes during peak hours, making the service considerably more frequent and predictable than many existing bus routes on the corridor.
The first phase is currently expected to be completed in 2031. Metro is also studying a potential 2.5-mile northern extension to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station, which could eventually push the rail connection farther into the Valley.
For decades, the San Fernando Valley has been the only major region in L.A. County without dedicated rail transit. The new line will link residents of Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta, and Pacoima with key destinations along one of the Valley's busiest corridors, potentially reducing congestion and expanding mobility options for hundreds of thousands of residents.
This article was generated with AI assistance.