Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
It took ten years just to approve the plan for a long awaited train from VIt'll add half a cent to LA's sales tax, and there still isn't nearly $25 billion to fund it. They tell us it will take eight years to build it, but it will really take say, 25
LOS ANGELES — It took ten years just to approve the plan for a long awaited train from Van Nuys to Westwood, along the 405 Freeway. It'll add half a cent to LA's sales tax, and there still isn't nearly $25 billion to fund it. They tell us it will take eight years to build it, but it will really take say, 25. But finally the MTA said yes.
On January 22, 2026, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors unanimously approved the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor project, selecting an underground heavy-rail option to connect the San Fernando Valley to the Westside. The decision advances a long-planned high-capacity transit line designed to tunnel through the Santa Monica Mountains and Sepulveda Pass, offering a direct alternative to the chronically congested Interstate 405 freeway.
The approved plan, known as Modified Alternative 5, features an approximately 13- to 14-mile automated underground heavy-rail alignment. It will run from the Van Nuys Metrolink Station in the north, through areas including Sherman Oaks, under the mountains and neighborhoods such as Bel-Air and Beverly Crest, with a key stop at UCLA, and terminate at the E Line (Expo)/Sepulveda Station on the Westside.
The route includes connections to existing Metro lines such as the E, D, and G lines, and is projected to complete the trip between the San Fernando Valley and Westside in under 30 minutes, potentially relieving pressure on the 405, which sees roughly 400,000 daily vehicle trips in the corridor.
The project aims to provide a critical north-south regional link, improving transit access for commuters in areas including Santa Monica and nearby Westside communities.
By bypassing surface traffic and offering a reliable, high-speed option, it could significantly reduce travel times and congestion for Santa Monica residents heading to the Valley or other parts of Los Angeles.
The approval follows the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Report in 2025 and extensive public review, with the board's vote marking a major milestone in moving the initiative forward from planning to refined design and final environmental clearance.
While the unanimous decision drew applause in the boardroom and represents historic progress for the multibillion-dollar project—estimated in the range of $25 billion or more—funding remains a significant challenge. Billions of dollars still need to be secured through federal, state, local, and potentially private sources, which could impact the timeline for construction and completion.
Critics point out that few people with jobs choose to ride the trains, because they are not safe due to homelessness and criminals.
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