East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor

The East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor is a proposed light rail transit corridor in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, running on a north/south route along Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road.[1] Metro selected its preferred route as light rail without tunneling, "Alternative Six". The final Environmental Impact Report is currently in progress and the light rail line is scheduled for construction in 2021 with a completion of 2027.[2]

East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor
Planned Route in Los Angeles, CA with its planned stations.
Overview
Type	Light rail
System	Metro
Status	Planned
Locale	San Fernando Valley
Termini	Sylmar/San Fernando station Van Nuys station
Stations	14
Operation
Planned opening	2027 (2027)
Character	median-running at grade
Technical
Line length	9.2 mi (14.8 km)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC overhead catenary
Route map Metrolink to Lancaster Sylmar/San Fernando Maclay SR 118 Paxton Van Nuys/San Fernando Laurel Canyon I-5 Arleta Woodman Nordhoff Roscoe Van Nuys Metrolink Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor to the Westside (planned) maintenance and storage yard Sherman Way Vanowen Victory Van Nuys

The project is being planned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The line has been given high priority by Metro in its long range plan, and funding for the project is included in Measure R and Measure M.[2][3] The project's timeline was accelerated under the Twenty-eight by '28 initiative.[4]

In June 2018, Metro staff recommended the corridor be built as an at-grade rail line, making it a part of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system.[5]

Overview

The northern end to the proposed line is the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station, and the southern end would be the G Line's Van Nuys Station, providing intermediate connections to Metrolink and Amtrak at the Van Nuys Metrolink station.[1] The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor to the Westside is expected to connect to this line at the Van Nuys Metrolink station. The Metro staff recommendation included 14 stations for the 9.2 miles (14.8 km) line.[6]

The Draft Environmental Impact Report was completed and released in September 2017.[7] Planning for the ESFVTC will take into consideration other major planned infrastructure projects, including a Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor rail link and the conversion of the G Line from bus rapid transit to light rail.

History

Six initial alternatives were developed during the environmental review process: [8][7]

DEIR Alternative	Description	New trips [9]	Estimated cost (billions)[9]
Alternative 1	No build	N/A	N/A
Alternative 2	Transportation system management	N/A	N/A
Alternative 3	Curb-running bus rapid transit (BRT)	30,900	$0.294
Alternative 4	Median-running BRT	31,500	$0.402
Alternative 5	Median-running light rail transit (LRT) with low-floor vehicles	35,800	$1.3
Alternative 6	Median-running LRT with high platform stations and some underground portions	47,400	$2.79

Route Selection: Alternative Six

In June 2018, Metro staff recommended a modified version of Alternative 6, using high-floor light rail vehicles like those on other Metro Rail lines but entirely on the street.[5]

Metro approved the project with $1.3 billion in funds, initiating the final EIR. The northern terminus will be the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station. The light rail train will run southeast for two and a half miles on San Fernando Road to Van Nuys Boulevard. It then heads south on Van Nuys Boulevard for five miles reaching the Van Nuys Metrolink station. Its southern terminus will be the Van Nuys Orange Line station near L.A.'s Van Nuys City Hall two miles further south. [10]

Station	City/Neighborhood	Connecting rail services[11]
Sylmar/San Fernando	Sylmar	Metrolink: Antelope Valley
Maclay	San Fernando
Paxton	Pacoima
Van Nuys/San Fernando	Pacoima
Laurel Canyon	Pacoima
Arleta	Arleta
Woodman	Arleta
Nordhoff	Panorama City
Roscoe	Panorama City
Van Nuys Metrolink/Amtrak	Van Nuys	Connection to Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner & Coast Starlight, Metrolink: Ventura County Possible future terminus of the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor[12]
Sherman Way	Van Nuys
Vanowen	Van Nuys
Victory	Van Nuys
Van Nuys	Van Nuys	Connection to  G Line Possible future terminus of the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor[12]

Construction

Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2021. Ridership is anticipated by late 2027.[13] Funds are being acquired. $800 million from measure M, $200 million from SB1 gas tax and $200 million from other state-level sources.[14]

References

1. https://media.metro.net/projects_studies/east_sfv/images/deis-deir/esfv_DEIS-DEIR.pdf
2. "East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor". www.metro.net. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
3. "Draft EIS/EIR". www.metro.net. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
4. Sharp, Steven (27 November 2018). "Here are the 28 Projects that Metro Could Complete Before the 2028 Olympics". Urbanize. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
5. Hymon, Steve (16 June 2018). "Metro staff recommends building light rail between Van Nuys and Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station". metro.net. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
6. https://metro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=6314912&GUID=484B7881-44C3-41E1-B728-9D7CAA8B6085
7. "The East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor: Rendered". Urbanize LA. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
8. "Overview". www.metro.net. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
9. "East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Takes Another Step Towards Reality". Urbanize LA. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
10. "L.A. Metro Board Approves Light Rail for East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Project". www.MassTransitMag.com. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
11. "Bus and Rail System Map" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
12. Hymon, Steve (29 January 2019). "Here are the four new refined concepts for Sepulveda Transit Corridor". metro.net. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
13. https://urbanize.la/post/city-la-plan-development-surrounding-van-nuys-light-rail-line
14. https://urbanize.la/post/metro-staff-recommends-light-rail-van-nuys-boulevard

External links

• Official website