The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit project is a major $3.57 billion transportation initiative spearheaded by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Designed to improve mobility and serve transit-dependent communities in the Northeast Valley, the project features a new 6.7-mile light rail line with 11 stations connecting Van Nuys to Pacoima, passing through neighborhoods like Panorama City and Arleta. Funded by a combination of federal grants and the local voter-approved Measure M transport tax, the new route aims to provide a safe, reliable, and much-needed commuting option for hard-working residents. With construction kicking off in late 2023, the light rail line is slated to open for passenger service by 2030, marking one of several major transit upgrades planned for the San Fernando Valley over the next decade—a regional momentum echoed in Texas, where the Austin Light Rail project has officially moved forward by appointing the Kiewit-Austin Partnership to deliver its critical Operations and Maintenance Facility.

Project Overview

• Type: Light Rail Transit (LRT) line
• Location: East San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California (Connecting Van Nuys to Pacoima)
• Estimated Cost: $3.57 billion
• Route Length: 6.7 miles
• Stations: 11 new stations
• Key Communities Served: Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta, and Pacoima
• Funding: Federal funding (championed by US Representative Tony Cárdenas) and local funding from the Los Angeles County voter-approved Measure M tax measure
• Construction Start: Late 2023
• Target Opening: 2030

Project Team

• Owner / Developer: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)
• Key Advocates: U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas

Reported 28th June 2023: Construction of East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit project is expected to kick off soon. This project will include a 6.7-mile line with 11 new stations connecting Van Nuys to Pacoima, better serving the communities of Panorama City and Arleta.

The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit project is just one of several transit improvements the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) plans to improve mobility in the San Fernando Valley over the next 10 years. Other projects include the North San Fernando Transit Corridor Project, the G Line Improvement Project, and the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project. The projects are funded in part by the local voter-approved Metro-M tax measure, which funds transportation improvements throughout Los Angeles County

.San Fernando Valley Representative Tony Cárdenas is fighting for federal funding, which makes up much of the $3.57 billion project.

“The Northeast Valley is not necessarily a tourist destination. We don’t have Disneyland. “We don’t have anything like that,” Cardenas said. “But what we have is a lot of hard workers coming and going from here, who come to sleep at night and get up very early in the morning and do the hard work. Work everyone wants to see”.

Many residents of underdeveloped communities in the East Valley cannot afford a car and therefore rely on public transportation.

According to the LAPD, violent crime in subways, bus and train stations has risen to higher levels than before the pandemic. Cárdenas said the safety of cyclists on the new route is key to its success.

“Public safety in Los Angeles is a top priority not just for the county, but for the city and all agencies, and I think we’re doing a great job and will always try to improve,” Cardenas said.

Construction will begin later this year and the new line is scheduled to open by 2030.

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