Metro breaks ground on East San Fernando Valley light rail project

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has broken ground on the East San Fernando Valley (ESFV) Light Rail Transit project. The $4 billion initiative will create a 6.5 to 6.7-mile rail line running along Van Nuys Boulevard, connecting Van Nuys to Pacoima through communities such as Arleta.

The project features 11 new at-grade stations spaced approximately three-quarters of a mile apart. Once operational, which is slated for October 2031, the line will provide the first local-stop commuter service to the corridor in over 70 years. The rail line is intended to improve access to jobs, healthcare, and education, specifically targeting areas where transit dependency is high; approximately 19% of households in the project corridor lack personal vehicles.

In addition to rail service, the project includes mobility improvements and the undergrounding of power lines. The new system will integrate with existing regional networks, including Metrolink, Amtrak, and the Metro G Line. Local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmembers Imelda Padilla and Monica Rodriguez, characterized the project as a vital investment to address historical disinvestment in the San Fernando Valley.