Metro has issued Notices to Proceed to two private sector teams to officially begin Pre-Development work on Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project concepts for a new, high-capacity transit line that will connect the San Fernando Valley with the Westside and eventually LAX.
Pre-Development Agreement (PDA) contracts have now been signed and will allow Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners – Bechtel to further develop its proposed heavy rail transit concept and L.A. SkyRail Express to continue developing its proposed monorail concept.
Metro is scheduled to begin its environmental review process for the project this fall. Alternatives for the project, including concepts from PDA partner teams, will be refined as part of this process and will include extensive public feedback and technical analysis.
If the Metro Board selects a PDA concept as the Locally Preferred Alternative, or LPA, the selected private sector team may have an opportunity to submit a proposal to build and potentially help finance the project. Metro retains the right to pursue a different project and delivery path if required, giving the agency the most flexibility to build a project that meets Metro’s rigorous requirements.
Metro’s Notices to Proceed follow the Metro Board’s approval earlier this year of a $69.9-million contract to Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners – Bechtel and a $63.6-million contract to L.A. SkyRail Express. For specific information on PDA project team proposals, click here.
PDAs enable early contractor involvement in Metro’s transit project and increase the likelihood that the project can be built via a public-private partnership that allows for innovations in design, engineering, construction approach, financing and operations. The PDAs will bring the expertise and creativity of the private sector to the table early when critical design and engineering decisions can have the greatest impact on the project’s ultimate success. The idea of using a PDA on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project was a critical component of several unsolicited proposals submitted to Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation in 2016.
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project is funded in part by Measure M, the transportation sales tax approved by 71 percent of Los Angeles County voters in 2016. The total project will receive $9.5 billion in funding from Measure M and other local, state and federal sources.
For additional project information, visit https://www.metro.net/projects/sepulvedacorridor.
QUOTES
“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,” said Metro Board Chair and Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Hilda L. Solis. “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.”
“With all the agreements now in place, we are confident we will succeed in supporting a process that will benefit future transit riders in this crucial corridor,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We will be customer-focused and committed to public transparency and inclusion during every step of this process.”
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Categories: Projects
Speaking of the Sepulveda pass; I really don’t understand Metro’s logic when it comes to the level of bus service available even under the new improved schedules that took effect recently. It is well understood that there is high transit demand here and yet we still have 30 minute headways at best during the day and even worse headways at night (if we don’t count the 788 as that serves a very specific peak hour only market with a somewhat different route, not to mention zero weekend service).
At the very LEAST, Metro, you guys need to provide a level of service that mimics what a traditional metro rail line will be. This means that routine headways never exceed 20 minutes (preferably no more than 15 but we will start with the existing 20) during all service hours. Why is this not obvious? You guys KNOW there is a demand here so what’s up? It doesn’t make any sense; were about to build a line that will have peak frequencies of possibly 2 to 4 minutes and yet the best we can get with buses until then are 30 minute frequencies for an already somewhat slow route? I just can’t with you guys sometimes… seriously… I will personally say that driving is still the better option here (as sub-optimal as it is having to do that) in large part due to this, and I’m sure that is the case for many others. Get it together.
They should study a light rail line at least. The monorail is not compatible with existing lines and require new trains and infrastructure. What a waste!!!
Every comment here is right on the money. The monorail proposal is a waste of time and money. Heavy rail is the obvious solution and the only viable one when looked at long term.
The monorail option is a MISTAKE!
Please stop wasting money on this monorail proposal whose proposed station locations show a complete lack of understanding of how to build a viable, equitable mass transit system.
We know right now that the monorail is an enormous waste of tax dollars. Stop funding the study of the monorail and focus support the heavy rail plan that actually connects to and invests in our existing infrastructure!
Indeed.
I would much rather hear about how the D (Purple) Line will be connected to the new line. I wonder if any through service would be possible.
Please stop studying monorail as an alternative. It is just a waste of time and money.
No it couldn’t.. $130M will barely get you half a subway station in LA.
Something is very wrong when we are even still talking about a monorail option. ALL energies, money and time must be on the subway option to have any chance that any part of this line will be done by the 2028 Olympics. By my count, basing the time being spent on 3 segments of the Purple Line extension, you would basically have to start Sepulveda Line NOW and thats not going to happen.
Come on Metro, ditch the Monorail once and for all and while you are at it, another road-carpool line or whatever that project is on the 405 again. All monies and effort has got to be on the subway.
Continuing to study monorail as a concept is a complete waste of time and money.
$130 million dollars wouldn’t get you through the pass at all– Henry Huntington didn’t have to deal with modern America’s incredibly bloated infrastructure costs.
Ugh! Can we please just stop the monorail nonsense. It’s a questionable technology with flawed station locations and deceptive budget.