Pacoima to Sylmar Light Rail Segment in Planning Phase

Article Credit - The San Fernando Valley Sun

by Semantha Raquel Norris, San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol

April 3, 2024

Construction starts this year on the southern segment of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail (ESFV LRT), but the northern segment is still in the planning phase – undergoing a supplemental study that will ostensibly be completed in June. 

The entire ESFV LRT project is broken into two segments: the southern segment, a 6.7-mile track with 11 transit stations from Van Nuys to Pacoima, and the northern segment, a 2.5-mile stretch from Pacoima to Sylmar with three potential stations. 

The northern segment is currently proposed to run alongside the Metrolink rail line, ending at the Sylmar station. 

Metrolink and the light rail trains intersect with city streets – Van Nuys Boulevard, Paxton Street, Jessie Street/Wolfskill Street, Brand Boulevard, Maclay Avenue and Hubbard Street. 

Metro Board certified the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the ESFV LRT project in December 2020 but decided to further study the northern segment. 

Brandy Alvarez, principal transportation planner for the ESFV LRT, told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol that this was in part due to concerns raised by the city of San Fernando and Metrolink. 

“Our concerns were that the mitigations that they [Metro] would include in the EIR [Environmental Impact Report] weren’t sufficient,” said Nick Kimball, city manager for the city of San Fernando. 

“When they were certifying the EIR … a lot of the traffic and circulation data they were using was almost 10 years old,” said Kimball. 

He added that the initial EIR also didn’t take into consideration the potential of dual Metrolink tracks. 

Metrolink has double tracks from Palmdale to Santa Clarita and from Burbank to Los Angeles, but the segment in between that runs through the city of San Fernando is single-tracked. This creates a bottleneck on either end of the single track, while trains wait for a clear passage. Metrolink has considered adding a second railroad track next to the existing one, allowing for trains to travel simultaneously in different directions through this region. 

The addition of a light rail train adds more complications. Having three to four tracks brings more variables and more possibility for potential accidents or increased traffic.

Kimball said the additional train could triple the number of times that the guard gates were down at the grade-crossing points. 

“We requested the supplemental study so that they [Metro] actually took into account what the impact of the Metrolink train coming through would be, as well as updated traffic and pedestrian counts so that there would be better mitigation measures taken when the project is constructed,” said Kimball. 

He added that he was grateful that the Metro Board supported the city of San Fernando in conducting the additional studies.

In March 2022, the Metro Board approved the proposed study by the planning staff, which was phased out in two portions. The first was a five-month-long grade-crossing analysis, and the optional second portion, an 18-month-long study of three scenarios of travel through the right of way, began in January 2023.

The three scenarios are: running ESFV LRT tracks next to the Metrolink rail; forgoing the light rail in favor of an additional Metrolink stop on this passage; or an unlikely third option of a Metro train that could run on freight tracks. 

There is also the potential of implementing different grade levels for the light rail track, meaning underground or elevated, at certain points on the northern section.

“We’re looking at things such as right-of-way impact costs associated with these three potential scenario situations,” said Alvarez. “We’re looking at things like mode shifts, we’re looking at safety, we’re looking at traffic and equity considerations, as well as the integration of operations.” 

This means the study examines what transfers look like between Metrolink and Metro lines, how safe it is for pedestrians, how cost-effective each option is for ridership, what populations are getting serviced and how the Metrolink and Metro systems integrate their operation systems. 

The study is set to be completed in June and presented once again to the Metro Board. After reviewing the study, the board will decide how to proceed in the northern segment. 

Once the supplemental study is completed, Kimball said the city will work with Metro to update San Fernando City Council and residents about the future plans.

“We are supportive of more transportation options for the community,” said Kimball. “In general, we are supportive of the light rail. It just has to be done right.”

Article Credit - The San Fernando Valley Sun

by Semantha Raquel Norris, San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol