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28 I Community Profiles 2024
Panorama City, Arleta and Pacoima, many of whom are transit dependent. “Growing up in Pacoima, bringing rail transit to the east side of the San Fernando Valley has been a priority of mine for decades,” said Senator Alex Padilla, who along with Congressman Tony Cárdenas, helped secure the federal funds. “Underserved Angelenos deserve more access to reliable, affordable transit to create opportunities for work and for a better life.” Metro is now conducting advanced utility
the 9-mile project will provide a high-capacity, fast and reliable alternative for commuters seeking to travel quickly between downtown L.A. and West Los Angeles – the region’s two largest urban centers. Metro anticipates receiving over $150 million in federal funding for section three (between Century City and Westwood), part of a broader $1.2 billion federal commitment for this section. All sections will be open prior to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Metro also received a $77.5 million FY24 Low
or No Emission grant from the Federal Transit Administration
adjustment work for the $3.57 billion project. Construction of utility work and minor street
Metro Projects Advance: Federal and State Funds Give Transit Agency a Boost
Metro Board Members and elected officials celebrate a $893 million federal grant for the East San Fernando Light Rail Project.
By Elizabeth Smilor Special Sections Writer
However, Metro’s vision goes well beyond 2028 as a world-class transportation system for all users. Most recently, Metro was awarded a $893 million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the new East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project -- the first local stop, commuter rail service to return to Van Nuys Boulevard in more than 70 years. The last Pacific Electric “San Fernando Valley Line” urban electric railway rolled down Van Nuys Boulevard in 1952. “This direct, rapid transit connection to our growing Metro system is going to make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of residents across our East San Fernando Valley communities,” said Metro Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. The project previously received $600 million in California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) grant funding, illustrating that a combination of local, state and federal transportation dollars is helping transform mobility in the Valley. The line will be built along Van Nuys Boulevard, one of the Valley’s busiest corridors and will provide a new light rail alternative for the residents of Van Nuys,
L.A. Mayor and then Metro Board Chair Karen Bass talks with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg as he toured Metro transit projects last summer.
ith an influx of state and federal funds, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is fast tracking multiple projects – from the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project to the procurement of zero-emissions buses. “During our international delegation to Paris to prepare for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics Games, the message was clear: there’s no time to waste in strengthening our local infrastructure and transportation system to be ready to welcome the world for the Games,” said Mayor of Los Angeles and Metro Board Member Karen Bass. Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 Initiative outlines projects slated for completion by 2028. Five projects have already been completed, including most recently the transformational Regional Connector in Downtown L.A., which closed a missing link in the rail system and created better transit access to the core of downtown, and provided a seamless journey for riders.
improvements along Van Nuys Boulevard is expected to start later this year. The 6.7-mile project will include 11 new light rail stations and is currently forecast to open in 2031. “This $893 million grant will enable us to finally bring light rail back to the Valley, and we thank the Biden- Harris Administration and the L.A. County Congressional Delegation for making this critical investment in our region’s future,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Thirty-five percent of households in the East San Fernando Valley depend on Metro for their transportation, and the East San Fernando Valley Line will give them faster and more efficient service than ever before. Now that this funding is in place, we look forward to breaking ground on this line in the coming months.” Earlier this year, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill provided Metro with over $700 million in funding, which will be used for three projects: the East San Fernando light rail; and two sections of the Westside’s D (Purple) Line extension. The D Line (Purple) Subway Extension Project is being constructed in three sections, and will connect Koreatown in Downtown L.A. with West L.A. Combined,
to help the agency purchase dozens of battery electric buses, install new chargers and expand workforce development training at its West Hollywood bus division. The new electric buses will run on multiple lines throughout Los Angeles County and enhance mobility with direct access to Metro rail lines. The project emphasizes environmental and air quality improvements while providing high-quality transit service to Los Angeles County’s residents and visitors. “As we approach the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Metro will continue to showcase Los Angeles as a climate leader on the world stage, providing clean transportation options to athletes and attendees,” Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Lindsey P. Horvath. Metro is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries nearly a million boardings daily on six electric rail lines and 117 bus routes utilizing more than 2,000 low-emission buses. m
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