Metro gives go-ahead for pre-development of two concepts for $9.5 billion Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has given two businesses the go-ahead for pre-development work on concepts for the $9.5-billion Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project to link the San Fernando Valley communities with the Westside and LAX, Metro officials say.

Metro officials say they have signed an agreement with L.A. SkyRail Express to move forward with developing its proposed monorail concept and with Bechtel to develop its proposed heavy rail transit concept for the mega project.

“With our partner teams now able to begin refining their concepts, Metro can begin preparing for the environmental phase — the first step in delivering a project that will address our notorious traffic problems in the Sepulveda Pass, 405 and neighboring communities,” Hilda L. Solis, Metro Board Chair and Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement. “This project will offer a tremendous alternative to driving in the region and will bring new transit opportunities to a car-centric region that places transit riders at the forefront.”

Metro plans to launch its environmental review process this fall for the project, allowing for public feedback and comment on the project’s alternatives.

The two companies’ concepts will go to the Metro Board and if selected, they may have an opportunity to submit a proposal to build and potentially help finance the project, the statement says.