Relieving congested urban freeway corridors

More than 400,000 people every weekday traverse Interstate 405 between West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, making it one of the most congested urban freeway corridors in the United States. The goal of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project is to provide a viable alternative along this section of the highway. Adding a high-capacity, reliable transit system in this corridor would address traffic congestion and improve the quality of life for the public that travels through this area.

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC) Project is in the initial phase of evaluating a two-phase fixed-guideway technology transit system that will add to the existing Los Angeles Metro rail transit network. The project’s initial phase will connect the San Fernando Valley to West Los Angeles (“Valley to the Westside”) by 2033-2035. The project’s second phase will connect West Los Angeles to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by 2057- 2059.

As a subconsultant to Anser Advisory, GHD is expeditiously collaborating with Metro’s Program Management Department to provide expertise across multiple disciplines. Metro’s Program Management Department is responsible for delivering the agency’s sizeable transportation capital program, which necessitates quickly scaling up or down technical resources depending on the needs.

The project currently includes six alternatives: three monorail and three heavy rail- options. Four of the alternatives would traverse the Santa Monica Mountains via tunnels within an active seismic area.

The natural barrier created by the Santa Monica Mountains makes travelling between the Valley and the Westside challenging – and will require innovation and multiple solutions. We are working alongside Anser Advisory and Los Angeles Metro to deliver a new fixed guideway transit service between the Westside and the San Fernando Valley to help relieve one of the most congested urban freeway corridors in the United States. GHD is serving as an extension of Metro technical staff to review the plans, schedules and cost estimates as the PDA teams develop them to ensure they adhere to project requirements.

Our global team of subject matter experts is capable of leveraging industry best practices and experience to manage the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project successfully. The team encompasses multiple disciplines, including tunnelling, geotechnical, structures, roadway, drainage, fire-life-safety, tunnel ventilation, and operations and maintenance facilities. Leveraging our global portfolio of rail & transit projects enables our team to implement best practices from various program management, alternative delivery, and P3 projects worldwide. GHD’s subject matter experts are afforded opportunities to enhance project concepts through routine constructability reviews, feasibility and engineering reviews, advanced conceptual design reviews, risk assessments and evaluations of utility relocations.

We are closely collaborating with Anser Advisory and LA Metro’s Planning and Program Management departments to review plans, schedules and cost estimates as the PDA teams develop them to ensure they are consistent with the project requirements and expectations. Furthermore, we will effectively engage with external parties such as Caltrans and the City of Los Angeles throughout project development to help ensure that the design complies with all applicable local standards and codes.

Due to the complex nature of tunnelling operations through active fault zones, our global tunnelling team is mobilized to leverage industry best practices for the benefit of the project. Furthermore, a global team of experts is assigned to provide design oversight for the tunnel ventilation system.

GHD and Anser Advisory are working with LA Metro to support evaluation of alternatives for a high-quality, reliable transit service option connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. The estimated $5.5 billion project will enhance north-south mobility options through the Santa Monica Mountains, where a limited number of roads and public transport options exist. Once completed, the project will help LA Metro achieve its vision to make it easier to get around by creating better transit options between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. In addition, the project will transform the everyday lives of commuters in Los Angeles County by providing a safe and reliable transit option while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve regional air quality.