The Metro Board of Directors will consider on Thursday, Aug. 27 awarding a $48.3-million environmental studies and advanced conceptual engineering contract for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project proposed to get people out of their cars and into an above-ground rail or a subway system between the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles International Airport.
The contract is earmarked to be awarded to HNTB Corp., Terry A. Hayes Associates Inc. and AECOM Technical Services for contractor services during the state and federal environmental review and project design.
The group will be tasked with processing and analyzing environmental studies and impact reports on current Metro concepts the agency already has waiting in the wings and proposed, private-industry concepts coincidentally due the day before the board meets.
It’s expected Metro could possibly pick one or two of the private-industry concepts, thereby creating a public-private partnership that offers innovative choices for the corridor project as early as next year.
It could take up to four years for the final design to be announced.
This is the first time Metro has tried this public-private partnership on a large scale, according to Bob Anderson, chair of the transportation committee for the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association that serves about 2,400 families and is known as a watchdog for community developments since 1969.
“It’s very exciting,” Anderson said. “They are moving along. I’m glad to see that the approval of the HNTB contract. That’s a nice milestone because it shows that we are making progress.”
Anderson said he was encouraged by the private industry proposals.
“We appreciate what Metro is doing here in looking for these alternative, innovative concepts because it’s difficult to do and they have taken on something that’s difficult to do but it is really in the best interest of the project,” he added. “We think it’s great.”
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project primarily targets Sepulveda Boulevard and Interstate 405 starting in Van Nuys.
Proposed concepts and project alternatives are clarified with public feedback during the environmental process and will be refined and evaluated during the environmental review phase, which Metro is expected to begin in 2021.
At the conclusion of that process, a team is expected to submit a formal proposal to build the line as a public-private partnership, which could include the private sector participation in building and financing the project. This approach could improve performance, reduce financial risk and possibly accelerate the project, according to city officials.
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor is part of the Measure M expenditure plan, with approximately $5.7 billion for new transit service to connect the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, scheduled to open by 2033-35. Approximately $3.8 billion is allocated to extend that service from the Westside to LAX with a 2057-59 opening date.
Last fall, Metro completed a two-year feasibility study evaluating a number of alignments and station locations for a range of high-capacity rail transit alternatives between the San Fernando Valley and LAX with connections to existing and planned Metro bus and rail lines, including the Metro E Line (Expo), G Line (Orange) and future Metro Purple (D Line) Extension and the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project.
You can watch Thursday’s board meeting online at: boardagendas.metro.net.
Or, listen by phone: Dial +1 (877) 422-8614 and enter extension 3490064#.
To learn more about the project, visit www.metro.net/projects/sepulvedacorridor/, email sepulvedatransit@metro.net or call the project information line at (213)922-7375.
