The board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has announced that they are exploring potential route options for the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor project. The increase in the investment cost between US$9.4 billion and US$13.8 billion from the initial estimate of US$5.7 billion was also announced. 

Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor project goal is to improve the travel between the San Fernando Valley, the Westside and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The natural barrier created by the Santa Monica Mountains means that most people traveling between these areas are funneled primarily onto the I-405 Freeway, already ranked as one of the most traveled urban highways in the nation. More than 400,000 people travel through this area every day to commute to work, school, and other destinations along the freeway and beyond.

To meet the demand from the riding public, there would need to be a high-capacity heavy rail or monorail system—rather than a cheaper light rail system. The improved plan could potentially double the initial investment cost proposed for the project.  The price of the project will depend on the type of system that will be built - monorail or heavy rail. And in the case of heavy rail - if it will be built above or below ground.

Although the funding source is not clear yet, the LA authority envisioned to make the project operational by 2028 - in time for the Olympics. To hit the target completion date, the construction of the project needs to commence in 2023. 

These are few options considered:

• one of the project´s option is an aerial rail across the Santa Monica Mountains;
• a mix of aerial and underground rail - this option is more expensive, ranging between USD 11 billion and USD 13.8 billion;
• three heavy rail options would include mostly tunnels through 13.5 miles of Santa Monica Mountains;
• monorail option would run along the 405 Freeway, would be cheaper - between USD 9.4 billion and USD 11.6 billion because it would require fewer tunnels, but it would be slower and with less space to accommodate riders.

Metro held community meetings in July and will present a report at the end of the year. Agreements with private contractors are planned to be finalized by that time as well and the project will move into the environmental study phase after that.