Metro’s board of directors voted Thursday to approve design plans for a proposed heavy rail project that would connect the San Fernando Valley to the Westside.
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project Locally Preferred Alternatives included options for the project pursued to provide an alternative to navigate on of Los Angeles busiest commutes on the 405 Freeway. The board’s Planning and Programming Committee recommended approval of Modified Alternative 5, a heavy rail transit option that would run underground between the Van Nuys Metrolink Station and the E Line Expo/Sepulveda Station.
The proposal would be modified to include a connection to the Metro G Line and the future East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Line at Van Nuys Boulevard.
Thursday’s vote was unanimous.
Modified Alternative 5 would provide nearly 13 miles of rail with seven stations. At the northern point of the proposed rail system, one station would be located at the Van Nuys Metrolink Station, followed by three unique underground stations at Sherman Way, Metro G Line on Oxnard Street, and Ventura Boulevard.
Four additional underground stations would be proposed at UCLA,(called UCLA Gateway Plaza), at Wilshire Boulevard/Metro D Line, at Santa Monica Boulevard, and a final connection to the Metro E Line Expo/Sepulveda Station.
Metro estimated the cost for the project could be between $20 billion and $25 billion. The transit agency has identified some funding from Measure M, a 2016-voter approved half-cent sales tax to support transit projects, which support the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Transit Project.
Metro officials previously considered other options that explored combinations of monorail, heavy rail, underground and aerial systems. These options varied in cost, length and service frequency, among other factors.
Plans expected to be considered Thursday have been opposed by homeowner associations. Some homeowners in Bel Air, for example, have criticized and opposed any proposal for an underground rail system. Tunneling for the underground rail system would take place between Bel Air and Beverly Crest, according to Metro documents.
