Metro Shares Latest Vision for Sepulveda Transit Line

While environmental approvals are still pending, Metro is ready to share the latest updates on its planned high-capacity transit line through the Sepulveda Pass. Throughout the rest of May, Metro will hold a series of community meetings to present projected costs and construction timelines for the project, depending on which of the five proposed build alternatives is chosen. Additional details are also available for public review on the project’s website.

In addition to a required no-build option, Metro is evaluating five potential routes for the first phase of the Sepulveda Line. Each option would start at the Van Nuys Metrolink Station in the north—where it would connect with the upcoming East San Fernando Valley light rail line—and run south along the 405 Freeway corridor, linking to key destinations like Westwood, UCLA, and other major transit lines, including the G Line, D Line, and E Line.

Alternatives 1 and 3, put forward by potential private partner LA SkyRail Express, propose automated monorail systems spanning 15 to 16 miles with eight or nine stations. Alternative 1 would primarily travel within the 405 Freeway median and use an electric bus to link with UCLA and the D Line, instead of offering direct service. Alternative 3 would transition underground past the Getty Center to provide direct underground connections at UCLA and the D Line. Both would include a monorail maintenance and storage facility near the Metrolink right-of-way in the Valley. Alternative 1 also adds a bus maintenance facility near the 10/405 interchange.

Alternatives 4 and 5, advanced by Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners, would use automated heavy rail technology and feature eight stops over just under four miles. While the routes are similar, Alternative 4 would run above ground through the Valley, whereas Alternative 5 would be completely underground. Each would have a maintenance and storage yard located by the Metrolink tracks in the Valley.

Alternative 6, the only Metro-built option, would be a driver-operated, fully underground rail line stretching nearly 13 miles. With seven stations, it would follow Van Nuys Boulevard before turning west after the D Line in Westwood to terminate at the E Line’s Expo/Bundy Station in Sawtelle, bypassing Sepulveda Boulevard stops entirely.

End-to-end travel times across the alternatives range from 18 to 33 minutes, with prior studies showing the heavy rail subway options offering the fastest trips. Daily ridership projections vary between 63,000 and 124,000 boardings.

Metro estimates that construction costs for the Sepulveda project will fall between $15.4 billion and $24.4 billion, while annual operations could cost between $130 million and $157 million. A Metro news release notes that these figures are still preliminary and could change as planning progresses.

The project’s second phase, intended to connect the E Line to LAX, remains a long-term goal.

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