LA Daily News: Public says: 93% favor rail tunnels, not an overhead monorail, for mega Sepulveda Pass project
Finding a way to travel carless over the Santa Monica Mountains, connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, is a major hurdle
LA Metro’s ambitious plan to connect San Fernando Valley with the Westside via rail comes down to a choice between an overhead monorail or underground subway, and in a new report based on 3,122 comments from residents, homeowner groups, environmentalists, elected officials and others shows 93% want tunneling. Just 7% want a monorail.
In a virtual community meeting on Thursday, June 16, Metro officials reported on the two modes, and on various routes and stations roughly outlined in six project alternatives.
To read the full article
click here.
After recognizing the benefits offered by Alternative 6, the Editorial Board also endorses Alternative 5 as a tangible solution for reduced transit times and more efficient travel.
The article discusses a presentation by Los Angeles Metro about the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, which could offer travel times of 12 to 39 minutes from the San Fernando Valley to UCLA campus. Six rail alternatives were presented, with heavy rail options being favored due to shorter travel times and higher ridership projections. Students, including members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, attended to advocate for heavy rail options. Public feedback is considered important in the decision-making process, and further events will be held to gather input. The article also includes comments from a graduate student supporting the heavy rail alternative.
The article discusses the transportation challenges in Los Angeles and the proposed Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, aiming to connect the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. It compares the advantages and disadvantages of heavy rail and monorail alternatives for the project. The article highlights the influence of wealthy homeowners' associations and private companies in the decision-making process. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the needs of working-class riders and upholding commitments to equity in public transportation projects. Additionally, the article includes a donation plug, appealing for support to keep the newspaper independent and accessible.
The LA Metro released data on the proposed Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, comparing six alternatives for connecting the San Fernando Valley with the Westside. An underground subway is projected to carry more riders and offer faster travel times compared to an aerial monorail. The subway options would directly connect Van Nuys to UCLA, while the monorail options require transfers, adding to travel time. The completion of the chosen alternative is estimated between 2033-2035. Proponents of the monorail argue for its lower cost, while supporters of the subway emphasize its potential to ease congestion and reduce pollution. Various groups, including student associations and nonprofit organizations, have voiced support for the heavy rail alternative.
Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners is committed to collecting local input and clarifying community concerns and/or misconceptions that could affect our proposals to provide an alternative to the 405 with fast, green and connected rail transit with stakeholders from the Valley, the Westside and across Southern California and beyond.
LOS ANGELES – Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners (STCP) announced today it has selected a world-class automated rail provider, RATP Dev, to develop the operations and maintenance component of its rail transit proposal to ease congestion on the I-405 (Sepulveda) corridor between Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley and Westside.
Providing opportunities for DBE firms is a critical part of Metro’s goal to enhance communities through mobility and access to opportunity. Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners' team includes multiple disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) that will play critical roles in the project, including architectural design, traffic analysis and system engineering. Additionally, the team has selected four DBEs to mentor during the initial phases of the PDA.
RELEASE: US-led team of rail innovators starts work on LA Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project
Following Metro’s official Notice to Proceed, private-sector consortium will begin development of its transit concept
The 405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass is one of the nation’s most traffic-clogged corridors. For workers, students and anyone else trying to go between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside during rush hour, the route is a slog, with cars inching over the Santa Monica Mountains.
$69.9 million contract to advance high-speed, high-capacity rail proposal to connect San Fernando Valley to West Los Angeles & relieve I-405