East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit (ESFV LRT) Project

Project Schedule

The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project is currently in early construction.  Metro's construction contractor, San Fernando Transit Constructors (SFTC), is now conducting underground utility adjustments that will continue through 2028. SFTC is also finalizing the project’s design, which includes other utility adjustments, civil streets improvements, stations, track, catenary power system (overhead powerlines that supply electricity to the train system) and a Maintenance and Storage Facility. Major construction activities such as civil street improvements are not expected to begin until late spring of 2026. 



Community Engagement

Metro and SFTC work collaboratively to outreach to residences and businesses about upcoming construction activities. Construction notices are distributed door-to-door to all businesses and residences within a 1/4-mile radius from the work area at least 72 hours in advance of any planned construction. Additional direct outreach is conducted to affected community members to inform them of impacts and mitigate them to the extent possible. 

How can I stay informed or ask questions about the project? 

The Project Team hosts quarterly construction update meetings that are held either virtually or in person.  At these meetings you will find more detailed information on the latest construction activity, status of the project, available Metro resources, and have the opportunity to ask questions to the Project team. The in-person meetings rotate between Arleta, Pacoima, Panorama City and Van Nuys.  You can also follow our Metro San Fernando Valley Facebook Page and sign up for Project updates by visiting our project website:  

• Facebook Page: facebook.com/groups/metrosfv 
• Project website: metro.net/eastsfv

In addition to the quarterly construction update meetings, Metro also hosts in-person and virtual meetings of its Community Leadership Council (CLC).  The (CLC) is an advisory council to the Project that promotes, fosters, and advances community–based dialogue arising from the Project.  The CLC is comprised of fifteen individuals who live, work, or own a commercial property or business in the Project area. 

Lastly, Metro’s Construction Relations Team regularly presents at chambers of commerce meetings, neighborhood council meetings, other stakeholder meetings, visits businesses door-to-door, tables at various community special events, and mails out notices to local residents.   

To learn more about our upcoming meetings, community outreach efforts, sign up for Project updates, or get more involved, please visit our Project website.

Metro Resources Available to Small Businesses

Metro’s goal is to help small businesses continue to thrive throughout construction and post-construction. Below is more information on the small business mitigation programs available to small businesses impacted by Metro transit rail construction.  Metro’s commitment is to be a trusted community builder, partner and stakeholder.   

What is the Business Interruption Fund (BIF)?

Metro’s Business Interruption Fund (BIF) provides financial assistance to small “mom and pop” businesses directly impacted by transit rail construction.  Small businesses located on the ESFV LRT Project corridor that are directly impacted by transit rail construction and meet the program’s eligibility requirements can receive financial assistance through grants to cover certain fixed operating expenses.  Please visit Metro.net/BIF for more information. 



What is the Business Solution Center? 

Metro’s Business Solution Center (BSC) provides hands-on business assistance and support services to small businesses impacted by transit rail and bus rapid transit construction projects.  Services are provided at no cost and there are no eligibility requirements to participate.  Types of services include business coaching, long-term business planning, increasing access to technology, accounting management, marketing support, access to capital and more.  The BSC program is anticipated to be launched on the Project in Spring 2025.



What is Metro's Eat Shop Play program?

Metro’s Eat Shop Play Program supports local businesses as Metro expands public transportation in Los Angeles. Businesses near Metro construction projects can get free marketing assistance through free digital marketing classes and coaching to help build and manage their online presence. Program participants can also gain additional visibility and exposure through Metro’s marketing campaigns and promotional channels.



Funding and Costs 

The Project's estimated cost of construction is $3.6 billion and will be funded through a variety of federal, state, and local sources. 

Construction Benefits & Impacts

Because the Project must be constructed in accordance with the City of Los Angeles’ street and sidewalk standards, Metro will construct new sidewalks, resurface streets, replace trees along Van Nuys Boulevard at a 2:1 ratio, and will install new streetlights and traffic signals.  

In order to meet City standards for approved street and sidewalk widths and still be able to fit the train system, all street parking will be removed throughout the alignment.  Additionally, the existing bike lane will be relocated to another area within the community in order to make the necessary room needed for the light rail system. 

Is parking being removed on Van Nuys Boulevard?

During the environmental review and planning process for the Project, Metro determined that all curbside parking would be removed along the project alignment, specifically along Van Nuys Bl from the Metro G Line Van Nuys Station to San Fernando Rd. The removal of parking on Van Nuys Boulevard is necessary to accommodate a median guideway for the light rail system, traffic lanes, and sidewalks and to minimize impacts to adjacent properties. 

An initial parking study was completed in 2013 as part of the environmental review process and concluded that there is enough on-street and off-street parking to accommodate parking loss in the area as part of the Project.  The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) are available on our Project website.

What is Metro doing to address the community’s concerns over parking removal?

In response to the community’s concerns over parking removal, Metro is conducting a new parking study. Initially, the focus of this new study was limited to the Northern portion of the Project, as well as the terminus.  But due to the importance of parking to the community, the new parking study has been expanded to the entire corridor.  Additionally, Metro is working with City of Los Angeles partners to explore potential solutions for parking concerns.  Metro knows that this is an important issue to the community and is not ignoring it.  Metro will provide periodic updates to the community on the status of the ongoing Parking Study.

What will happen to the existing bike lanes along the project corridor? 

The bike lanes will be removed from Van Nuys Bl due to the limited roadway width as a result of the construction of the transit line guideway. Per the Final Environmental Impact Report/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIR/FEIS) and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), Metro will work with the City of Los Angeles to identify, to the extent feasible, replacement locations for bike lanes that meet the goals and policies in the City of Los Angeles Bicycle Plan. The City of Los Angeles is working on a replacement bike path on Terra Bella Street that is currently in design and should be implemented in 2025. 

Property and Right-of-Way

The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) identified properties that would be acquired to support the construction of the Project.  As a result, the Metro Board of Directors approved the Relocation Plan on November 30, 2023.  The Relocation Plan is a Planning Document required by State and Federal law to discuss project impacts on displacees, the number and types of displacements, Metro’s relocation program and benefits, and requirements to receive benefits.  Metro hired Monument Right of Way to provide acquisition and relocation services to support, along with Metro, impacted property and business owners through the acquisition process.  The Relocation Plan can be found on the Project’s website. 

Environmental Impact 

Where can the public find the potential environmental impacts identified on this project?

The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Final Environmental Impact Statements (FEIS) are comprehensive documents that analyze the potential environmental impacts of the Project and are required under specific environmental laws, like the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for EIRs and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for EISs.  As the project design advances, Metro continually assesses the effectiveness of the originally proposed mitigation measures.  Amendments or changes to the original project scope were further studied and assessed through a CEQA Addendum adopted by the Metro Board in October 2023. Both reports are available on our Project website. 

How will potential Environmental Impacts be Mitigated?

Metro is committed to minimizing disruptions caused by construction activities for local businesses and residents and has adopted a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) in accordance with state (CEQA) and federal (NEPA) requirements. The MMRP contains mitigation measures that will be implemented for environmental impacts identified in the FEIR/FEIS such as noise, vibration, stormwater, and air quality.  The MMRP is listed in the Project’s FEIR/FEIS and is found on our Project website.  In addition to the MMRP, the contractor is contractually obligated to meet a number of environmental standards and regulations that Metro continuously manages and monitors.

Traffic and Transit During Construction 

How will traffic circulation be impacted during construction?

During construction, the project will maintain the flow of traffic with traffic control measures during lane closures. When full street closures are required, traffic detours will be implemented to direct traffic around the street closure. Traffic control plans will receive the necessary city review and approvals prior to implementation and community notifications will be provided in advance of construction activity. 

Will bus routes and operations be affected during the construction of the project?

Metro expects that bus routes and transit operations will be maintained throughout the duration of the project's construction. In instances where construction affects access to bus stops along the project corridor, Metro and the contractor will coordinate with Metro Bus Operations, Municipal Transit Operators, and other internal teams to facilitate their relocation. Notices of bus relocations will be posted before they are moved, and Metro will work with local transit apps to ensure those apps have the latest information available to the public. 

Construction Jobs and Opportunities

SFTC, the contractor selected to construct the project, must adhere to Metro’s Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and Construction Careers Policy (CCP) goals.  Both the PLA and Construction Careers Policy encourage construction employment and training opportunities to those who reside in economically disadvantaged areas of Metro construction projects.  To learn more about the PLA or CCP goals, please visit metro.net/about/placcp or call 888.887.3674. Metro's PLA and CCP hiring goals are as follows: 

• 40% local targeted workers
• 20% apprentice 
• 10% disadvantaged workers

Contractors will be encouraged to meet E011246 which includes a 6.9% female participation rate.  For more information on job opportunities and career programs, please email SFTC at careers@sftcjv.com.   

For more information on Bid / Small and Local Business opportunities, please contact DBE Compliance Coordinator, Rebecca Unter, at rebecca.unter@sftcjv.com or (510) 274-1166.