Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, in a joint venture (JV) with Stacy Witbeck, has announced that it has been awarded an additional contract by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project in Van Nuys, CA. Also, this contract will involve the preconstruction and early-works. The total contract value for the project is $2.43 billion.
Design
The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project is designed to expand transit access and strengthen connections along the Van Nuys Boulevard corridor. Furthermore, the addition of new stations and connections to existing services will provide a more reliable way for people to get to work, school and other regional destinations. Furthermore, this added continuity to the broader Los Angeles County rail system serves the communities of Panorama City, Arleta and Pacoima. Additionally, it supports long-term mobility efforts.
Also, this project is a Progressive Design-Build which integrated construction and design teams early in the development process. This allowed for early engagement with Metro and stakeholders to validate designs, address third-party constraints and refine construction approaches before full build-out which will help manage risk, cost and schedule during upcoming construction.
“The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail project is an investment in mobility for the region,” stated James Bailey, executive vice president of Skanska USA Civil’s West Coast operations. “The Progressive Design-Build delivery method enabled us to collaborate closely with LA Metro from day one, bringing designers, builders, stakeholders, and community members together to make informed decisions and help shape a light rail system that will serve the East San Fernando Valley for generations to come.”
“Delivering the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail requires getting every detail right, from utility coordination through revenue service, across some of the most active urban corridors in Los Angeles,” said Eric Meisgeier, project manager for Stacy Witbeck. “We will construct this project with the same focus on the work. Also, we will respect the community as we deliver a project the San Fernando Valley can be proud of.”
Project Scope
Moreover, the project scope includes the construction of a 6.7-mile, at-grade (street-level) light rail along Van Nuys Boulevard, a 26-acre Rail and Maintenance Facility, 11 new stations including shade structures and utility relocations and improvements.
The project commenced construction in July 2026 with. It is expected to be completed in December 2031.
Lastly, this project comes in as the US seeks to develop railway infrastructure to improve transport and connectivity in the country. Other railway projects that are to be developed include the Phoenix-Tucson railway.
Project Factsheet
Project Name: East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project
Location: San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California (along Van Nuys Boulevard corridor serving Panorama City, Arleta, and Pacoima)
Project Scope: 6.7-mile, at-grade (street-level) light rail transit line
Station Count: 11 new stations (including shade structures and regional transit connections)
Facility Component: 26-acre Rail and Maintenance Facility
Delivery Method: Progressive Design-Build
Contract Value: $2.43 billion (inclusive of preconstruction and early-works)
Total Project Budget: $3.6B–$4.0B overall Life-of-Project budget
Timeline: Construction start in July 2026; target completion in December 2031
Key Project Partners and Stakeholders
- Client / Owner: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)
- Primary Contracting Joint Venture: San Fernando Transit Constructors (Skanska USA Civil & Stacy Witbeck)
- Engineer of Record: AECOM
- Construction Management: Arcadis and Mott MacDonald
Operational Features and Key Benefits
- Corridor Alignment: Operates in a semi-exclusive right-of-way down the median of Van Nuys Boulevard.
- Network Integration: Connects directly with the Metro G Line (Orange) bus rapid transit and regional Metrolink/Amtrak passenger rail services.
- Community and Regional Impact: Replaces heavy bus traffic along one of LA County’s busiest transit corridors. Also, it will improve transit accessibility, lowering vehicle emissions, and enhancing local economic mobility.
Project Team
Project Owner and Client
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro): The public transit agency managing and funding the project.
Design-Build Contracting Joint Venture
- San Fernando Transit Constructors (SFTCJV): The primary progressive design-build joint venture leading construction, composed of:
- Skanska USA Civil: Co-leading general contractor for heavy civil and structural construction.
- Stacy Witbeck: Co-leading general contractor specializing in urban rail transit systems.
Key Design and Subsystem Partners
- AECOM: Serving as the lead designer overseeing final engineering, 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM), and facility design integration under the SFTCJV.
- Modern Railway Systems (MRS): Subsidiary of Stacy Witbeck providing rail signaling, systems, and specialized transit integration.
Construction Management and Specialized Support
- Arcadis & Mott MacDonald: Providing joint venture construction management and oversight support services for LA Metro.
- Global ASR: Providing environmental compliance, SWPPP monitoring, and regulatory support.
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