For Immediate Release

September 12, 2023
Contacts: 
John Bwarie: john@sfvcog.org 
Brooke Larsen: brooke.larsen@stratiscope.com

SFVCOG Board Adopts Guiding Principles for Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project

The San Fernando Valley Council of Governments is working to ensure Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project has regional benefits.

The Board of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, a regional agency representing 2 million Los Angeles County residents, has adopted a set of seven principles to inform the continued development of Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project in order to increase mobility options, bolster safety and convenience, and reduce roadway congestion. Overall, these principles reaffirm the SFVCOG’s commitment to expanding transit options and operations throughout the region to improve connectivity and residents’ quality of life.

SFVCOG’s principles include performance, accessibility, quality, and impact. Additionally, efforts should be made to be inclusive and transparent, focusing beyond communities immediately surrounding the proposed line and its stations since the project will provide significant infrastructure that serves all people across the region. The adopted principles are as follows:

1. Performance: The project should realize a high performing, high capacity transit line that moves a large number of people (passenger capacity), quickly, between the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles.
2. Quality: The project should utilize high quality equipment, materials, and technology so that it doesn’t have to be retrofitted or replaced within the first decades.
3. Accessibility: Both the alignment of the corridor and the siting of stations should take into account connectivity to key regional attractors, seamless transfers to other transit lines, and first/last mile connections via walking and biking.
4. Engagement: As the project is developed and goes through a community engagement process, efforts should be made to be inclusive and transparent, focusing beyond justcommunities immediately surrounding the line and its stations since the project will be regionally significant infrastructure that serves people all across the region.
5. Impact: Maximize positive impacts of the project by decreasing traffic and construction impacts along busy corridors and increasing ridership and modeshift to reduce negative impacts like sound and air pollution and visual blight. The project should further ensure that there is little to no disruption to other projects in the area (e.g. the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor project).
6. Fairness: Regardless of whichever alternative is selected, ensure that communities in the San Fernando Valley are not disproportionately disadvantaged by forcing these communities to bear the brunt of above-ground facilities while other communities do not.
7. Collaboration: Metro should work with the City of Los Angeles to pursue funding and address and advance equitable land use planning around stations through affordable housing production, mixed-use development, and joint development opportunities.

“This project has the potential to be one of the most significant transit projects in the region, and we want to ensure that it is built to represent all who utilize this critical corridor. These principles set forth clear objectives that our communities deserve, and we look forward to continuing to support an ideal project for residents and commuters alike,” said Santa Clarita Councilmember Marsha McLean, who serves as SFVCOG Chair.

Over the past several years, the SFVCOG has received regular updates from the Metro regarding the proposed Sepulveda Transit Corridor, and in 2022, the SFVCOG began a process to develop key principles to inform the process of creating the best project for the region now and for future generations.

Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project seeks to improve travel between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside through rail, bus, or a combination of public transit methods. The project is currently in the planning and Environmental Review stages. The project is forecasted to open between 2033 and 2035. More information on the project can be found at metro.net/projects/sepulvedacorridor.

About the SFVCOG
The San Fernando Valley Council of Governments works to increase coordination within its jurisdictions to improve regional mobility, economy, and safety. The SFVCOG was formed in 2010 with the adoption of the Joint Powers Agreement by the City and County of Los Angeles, along with the cities of Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita. The SFVCOG serves regional interests and is the voice of 2.1 million stakeholders. Learn more at sfvcog.org.