The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has broken ground on the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, a 6.7-mile extension designed to expand transit access to employment centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and local businesses.

The project is part of Metro’s broader effort to expand public transportation and improve mobility throughout the San Fernando Valley.

New Light Rail Service

The line will run along Van Nuys Boulevard through the densely populated, transit-dependent communities of Van Nuys, Arleta, and Pacoima. Approximately 19% of households in the project corridor do not have access to a personal vehicle, compared with 8% countywide.

The project will bring local-stop rail service back to Van Nuys Boulevard for the first time in more than 70 years. It will include 11 new at-grade stations spaced about three-quarters of a mile apart along the center of Van Nuys Boulevard. The stations will feature shade structures and safety improvements.

The line will connect with regional transportation services, including Metrolink, Amtrak, and Metro’s G Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), giving riders additional connections throughout Los Angeles County.

Infrastructure improvements will also include Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks, safer pedestrian crossings and roadway upgrades, according to Metro.

Economic Opportunities

Construction and operations are projected to generate more than 18,000 direct and indirect jobs. Through a Project Labor Agreement and Construction Careers Policy, Metro aims to connect residents with construction employment opportunities.

The rail line is also expected to provide Valley residents with access to approximately 150,000 employment opportunities across the region.

Metro is implementing several programs to help businesses manage construction-related impacts. The Business Interruption Fund assists eligible small businesses affected by construction, while the Business Solution Center offers support services to businesses along the route. The agency’s Eat, Shop, Play program provides local businesses with marketing assistance and promotional support.

“The San Fernando Valley is key for Metro in creating a connected Los Angeles County,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We want to improve access and mobility for the diverse communities along the route who depend on transit. The new East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project is a huge step in providing access to jobs, and the economic boost from the project will benefit residents and the economy.”

Project Funding

The project has an estimated construction cost of $3.998 billion and is funded through federal, state, and local sources, including revenue from the voter-approved Measure M sales tax.

Metro secured an $893 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the project’s funding plan. The grant is the first Full Funding Grant Agreement executed under the Federal Transit Administration’s Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program, which is designed to accelerate the delivery of major fixed-guideway transit projects.

The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project is a central component of a broader multibillion-dollar investment in San Fernando Valley transportation infrastructure planned over the next decade.

LA Metro’s Rail Expansion Drives Ridership Growth

Metro’s rail expansion comes as the agency reports sustained growth in rail ridership, highlighting increasing use of its expanding network.

In May 2026, Metro rail ridership reached 6.47 million trips, its highest level in more than six years and a 9.5% increase compared with May 2025. The opening of three stations on the D Line extension contributed to the growth, with D Line ridership increasing 62% year over year. The new stations generated an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 rides per day, while systemwide weekend rail ridership increased 18%.

Ridership growth continued into the summer. In July 2026, Metro recorded nearly 6.6 million rail boardings, up 16.84% from July 2025. The agency reported that the increase marked its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year growth in rail ridership.

Metro has attributed the gains in part to recent rail expansions, including the A Line extension to Pomona and the D Line extension, as well as improved access to Los Angeles International Airport through the LAX/Metro Transit Center.

The East San Fernando Valley project will add another connection to the region’s expanding transit network, improving access to destinations and connecting more residents to employment, education, and other essential services.