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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has issued a Request for Proposals to study the feasibility of various transit modes and alignments for the  L.A.’s notoriously congested Sepulveda Pass.

The project is one of the highest profile projects included in Metro’s recently approved Measure M transportation sales tax measure, and would connect the San Fernando Valley and Westside region of Los Angeles with a high capacity transit line. Approximately US$1 billion in funding is available through Metro’s 2008 Measure R transportation sales tax. Another US$6.8 billion for transit and freeway corridor improvements is identified through the Measure M transportation sales tax and other funding sources. That is a combined investment of nearly US$7.8 billion by Metro on these projects.    

With the RFP, Metro is seeking a consultant to identify and evaluate a range of high-capacity transit concepts that could serve the 11-mile north/south travel corridor connecting the Metro Orange Line in the San Fernando Valley with the future extension of the Metro Purple Line at Westwood or VA Hospital station and Metro Expo Line on the Westside. A number of alignments and terminal station locations will be considered. 

Transit modes that will be evaluated include Bus Rapid Transit, light rail, subway and other proven transit technologies not currently operated by Metro.The study is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete.

The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Project has an ultimate delivery date of 2033. Metro is seeking ways to expedite project delivery. Through Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the agency has received two unsolicited proposals for Public Private Partnerships to accelerate the project. They are from Parsons (Parsons Transportation Group, Inc.) and Cintra (Cintra US Services LLC, an affiliate of Cintra Global Ltd.). The feasibility study will help with the review of these industry proposals.

Metro’s study will also coordinate with the ongoing ExpressLanes study now being conducted by the agency’s Congestion Reduction Department. This project — also with funding from Measure M — would build toll lanes on the 405 between the 101 and 10 freeways.

John Fasana, Metro Board Member and Mayor Pro-Tem for the city of Duarte, said:

“The Sepulveda Pass remains one of the most intractable choke points in the entire L.A. region, impacting hundreds of thousands of motorists on a daily basis. That’s why we are laser-focused on finding a transit solution that will finally give Angelenos a choice to avoid this freeway’s rush-hour gridlock.”