Los Angeles is one step closer to a direct rail connection that will make travel faster and easier through the Sepulveda Pass, one of the most notoriously congested corridors in the country, after the LA Metro Board selected an underground heavy rail option as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project.

This move marks a key milestone for the region’s most critical infrastructure investment, which, according to an agency release, is expected to transport riders between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside in less than 20 minutes.

Once implemented, the project would connect the Metrolink Van Nuys Station to the Metro E Line, reducing commute times that can take 40 to 80 minutes by car. Additionally, a trip from Van Nuys (on the G Line) to Westwood (on the D Line) on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor would take about 10 minutes, reducing similar, unpredictable commute times.

The project would provide regional access and connect the agency’s growing rail transit network to the D, E, G, and East San Fernando Valley Lines, Van Nuys Metrolink Station, and UCLA. This connection is anticipated to drive high ridership, translating to economic, environmental, health, and mobility benefits for the entire region.

“A direct rail connection through the Sepulveda Pass will connect people to jobs, schools, airports, and entertainment faster than ever,” said LA Metro Board Chair and Whittier City Councilmember Fernando Dutra. “This project will cut travel time, reduce air pollution, and is the kind of bold, forward-looking investment that moves Los Angeles County into the future.”

Next Phase Begins for Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project

The Sepulveda Corridor is a vital link for the communities of greater Los Angeles, connecting residents in the San Fernando Valley to the Westside’s employment, educational, and cultural hubs. According to LA Metro, the natural barrier of the Santa Monica Mountains makes travel between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside “difficult, unpredictable, and slow.”

The agency released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) last summer, evaluating five different build alternatives for a rail transit option through the Sepulveda Pass.

The LA Metro Board selected Modified Alternative 5 as the LPA for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project based on technical evaluation and community and stakeholder input. During the public comment period for the project’s DEIR, LA Metro collected more than 8,000 public comment submissions.

With the LPA selected, the agency will focus on additional design refinement and community engagement to move into the next phase of the environmental review process.

Building a More Connected Los Angeles County

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project is the most recent project LA Metro has advanced as part of the “most ambitious transit capital program in the nation.”

Over the past four decades, LA Metro has built 118 miles of rail, with more than 50 additional miles currently in planning or construction. In 2025, the agency opened the LAX/Metro Transit Center, creating a direct connection between the Metro C and K Lines and, for the first time, a transit connection to Los Angeles International Airport.

LA Metro also opened the Metro A Line Extension to Pomona last year, reconnecting light rail service to the San Gabriel Valley for the first time since 1951.  

When all three phases are complete, the D Line extension is expected to increase ridership across the entire LA Metro System, bringing tens of thousands of new riders and improving access between downtown, cultural districts, universities, business centers, and residential neighborhoods.

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor represents the next generation of investments to expand access, reduce congestion, and improve the quality of life for millions of Angelenos.

“This is a historic moment for transportation in Los Angeles,” said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “The Sepulveda Corridor Project is one of the most ambitious transportation investments in our region’s history and will redefine how millions of people travel across Los Angeles. With today’s action, we are entering the next chapter of our transit revolution.”