Los Angeles, and in particular, the San Fernando Valley, is notorious for its traffic. Right now, an estimated 86 percent of San Fernando Valley commuters drive to work. Most spend more than half an hour on each end of the commute. Some good news is coming, though. The San Fernando Valley may be getting a new subway line.
The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association sent a letter to the Metro.
…The group expresses overall support for Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, which will link the Van Nuys Orange Line station to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station—about 9 miles to the north. The project won’t reach Sherman Oaks, but the group argues that it will have a potentially large impact on the neighborhood.
The letter also urges Metro to consider putting the line underground, maintaining that this option would be “faster and less intrusive on autos, pedestrians, and bikes.”
Source: LA Curbed
According to the environmental impact report, Metro is also considering a light rail line, two rapid bus options and a tram. Most of those would be at street level, with the exception of 2.5 underground miles between Panorama City and Van Nuys.
A subway would be much more expensive.
Putting the project underground would increase the projected cost of the project far beyond the $2.7 billion price tag Metro has estimated for the mostly above-ground light rail. Metro spokesperson Kimberly Upton tells Curbed the cost of an entirely subterranean line would likely be between $7 billion and $8 billion.
The homeowner’s association doesn’t care. They want the subway. About half the is already covered through Measure M, which raised sales tax last November. The rest, they say, can be raised by public-private partnerships.
What is your opinion on mass transit in the San Fernando Valley, and throughout the rest of the Los Angeles area?
Featured image via Wikimedia.
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