Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project picks underground heavy rail LPA

Los Angeles County officials have backed the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project’s underground heavy rail option, a move aimed at improving transit between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, as reported by Railway-News.

The Metro Board’s decision designates the selected concept as the corridor’s Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA).

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Under the plan, the line would run from the Metrolink Van Nuys Station to the Metro E Line, creating a direct route through the Sepulveda Pass. With today’s travel across the pass taking 40 to 80 minutes by car, Metro expects major time savings once the line is built.

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A trip from Van Nuys to Westwood on the new service is expected to take about 10 minutes. The corridor would also connect riders to multiple existing services, including the D, E and G Lines, and provide links to the Van Nuys Metrolink Station and UCLA.

Why the Sepulveda Pass needs an underground heavy rail option?

The Sepulveda Pass connects the Valley with Westside destinations tied to jobs, education and cultural activity. The Santa Monica Mountains form a natural barrier, and road travel can be slow and unpredictable—one reason Metro is advancing an underground heavy rail option as a more consistent alternative.

Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project connections and expected travel times

Once delivered, the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project would link the Metrolink Van Nuys Station with the Metro E Line and create new connections across the wider Metro network. Metro expects travel between Van Nuys—via the G Line—and Westwood—at the D Line—to take around 10 minutes, compared with the current 40-to-80-minute car trip through the Sepulveda Pass, as outlined by LA Metro’s The Source.

Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra, who also serves on the Whittier City Council, said the direct rail connection would improve access across the county. “A direct rail connection through the Sepulveda Pass will connect people to jobs, schools, airports and entertainment faster than ever,” he said. “This project will cut travel time, reduce air pollution and is the kind of bold, forward-looking investment that moves Los Angeles County into the future.”

DEIR review, Modified Alternative 5, and the next steps

Last year, LA Metro issued a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) that examined five potential rail options for the corridor. After reviewing technical studies and public feedback—including more than 8,000 submissions—the Board selected Modified Alternative 5 as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), a decision also covered by Railway Supply. Metro will now refine the design and continue community consultation as part of the next phase of environmental review.

The decision also fits into a broader rail expansion programme in Los Angeles County. Metro says it has built 118 miles of rail over the past 40 years and has more than 50 miles of additional lines either in planning or under construction. Recent projects highlighted by the agency include the LAX/Metro Transit Center, which provides a direct link to Los Angeles International Airport, and the Metro A Line Extension to Pomona.

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