The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit (ESFV LRT) Project is starting construction this year, moving the pre-pandemic proposal into a new phase. This will be the first light rail train in the East Valley – starting at the Metro G Line (Orange) rapid bus in Van Nuys and laying tracks north through Panorama City, Arleta, Pacoima, San Fernando and ending at the Sylmar Metrolink Station.
“Thousands of families in my district depend on public transportation to get to work or to school and they need premium transportation options for their everyday lives,” said Congressman Tony Cárdenas in a statement. “The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail project accomplishes just that.”
The project is broken into two segments: the southern segment, a 6.7-mile track with 11 transit stations from Van Nuys to Pacoima; and the northern segment, a 2.5-mile stretch from Pacoima to Sylmar, passing through the City of San Fernando.
Metro is conducting a supplemental study on the northern section – to be completed this year – after which further planning and fundraising will occur. The northern segment transit stations have yet to be confirmed.
As the Fiscal Year 2024 transportation spending bill became law, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) received $700 million in federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, of which $66.9 million is being used to help fund the southern segment of the ESFV LRT.
With Construction Comes Interruptions
The construction contract was awarded to the San Fernando Transit Constructors Joint Venture (SFTCJV), which is scheduled to begin on the southern segment mid-year. This section of the project is anticipated to be completed in 2031.
But, with large-scale construction comes noise, delays and interruptions to commutes and daily activities.
“A lot of our work is planned to be during the daytime for the noisier activities like removing the asphalt and digging, while the nighttime will be more quiet activities like laying the conduit and placing the concrete,” said Rafi Bulatewicz from SFTCJV.
Bulatewicz added that two north and southbound lanes will be kept open on Van Nuys Boulevard during the daytime, with some extended closures at night.
Although businesses may be impacted by the construction, Angela Winston, Director of Metro’s Business Interruption Fund (BIF), said they will never be blocked from operation.
The BIF provides financial assistance through grants to small businesses that are immediately adjacent to the transit rail corridor. According to Winston, businesses are required to apply to the program with proof of loss of income during construction, meaning that businesses may operate at a loss before receiving compensation funds.
Beyond interruptions, there are an estimated 53 project-impacted parcels – 80 non-residential businesses and three residential sites – that will need to relocate to build a maintenance and storage facility as well as several power stations for the rail (Traction Power Sub Stations). Renters and owners can be financially compensated for their move through the Relocation Assistance Program adopted by the Metro board last November.
“We work with our displaced and property owners all the way from the beginning. All the way through their finding a replacement site,” said Darryl Root, Director of Real Property Management & Development for Metro.
“We continue to give them advisory services, referrals to possible replacement sites, and continue to work with them throughout the lifetime of the project.”
Eminent domain rights give Metro the ability to procure property through a legally required court process from those who refuse to voluntarily relocate.
The Community Chimes In
Metro is hosting meetings with the community to listen to potential concerns from citizens, as well as inform people about construction plans and programs for affected parties.
Last Thursday, an in-person meeting was held at Panorama Presbyterian Church in Panorama City. Metro set up informational booths for each branch of the ESFV LRT project, with representatives to answer questions. After an hour-long presentation, a 30-minute Q&A session was held.
Community members asked questions about topics such as safety, noise, bike lanes, shade, power usage, digital equity investment and cultural preservation.
But the biggest issue repeatedly raised was parking – both the loss of parking along Van Nuys Boulevard and the fact that the project was not approved with any parking near transit stations.
Metro said that during the environmental review and planning process, they decided to remove curbside parking on Van Nuys Boulevard due to space constraints. As of now, Metro has not provided any solutions to parking problems.
The same presentation will be repeated (and recorded) virtually this Thursday, March 21, on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Additionally, Metro said they can coordinate presentations for specific communities upon request, and tailor those to specific needs including conducting presentations in other languages.
For more information about the ESFV LRT project visit: metro.net/eastsfv.
Contact the ESFV LRT team at: eastsfvtransit@metro.net or (818) 701-3844.