Metro Wants Community Input on the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Northern Segment

Posted on 05/16/2025

Metro Wants Community Input on the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Northern Segment

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

May 14, 2025

 

The grade-crossing at Maclay Avenue in the City of San Fernando. (SFVS/el Sol Photo/Semantha Raquel Norris)

The southern segment of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Train (ESFV LRT), a 6.7-mile elevated train from Van Nuys to Pacoima, is well underway and expected to be completed in 2031, while discussions are still ongoing regarding the northern segment, a proposed 2.5-mile track from Pacoima to Sylmar.

The northern segment would pass along the same path as the Metrolink through the City of San Fernando, ending at the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station. 

The potential increase in train traffic has raised concerns about traffic and public safety in the City of San Fernando. The city would effectively be cut in half if a train were built at grade, with passing trains stopping traffic flow at the four streets that cross the tracks – Hubbard Avenue, Maclay Avenue, Brand Boulevard and Jessie Street/Wolfskill Street. Two streets outside the city, Paxton Street and Van Nuys Boulevard, would also cross the tracks and be impacted. 

After pushback from the City of San Fernando, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) recently completed a Shared Right-of-Way (ROW) study for the northern segment to examine roadways that intersect with the train tracks, and confirmed that traffic would severely worsen at every intersection.

Map courtesy of Metro

“We’ve identified that the at-grade [tracks] couldn’t be done with the light rail in this situation,” said David Meiger, senior executive officer for Metro, during a presentation to the San Fernando City Council. 

With an estimated 25 trains passing through per hour at peak times, five times as often as they currently do, a northern segment light rail would only be possible if it were grade-separated, meaning the tracks would be elevated above the road or built underground. 

“Subways are so expensive that we have to get federal grant funding to build subways,” noted Meiger. 

Image courtesy of Metro

Moving forward, Metro is considering three options: forgo building the northern segment, build the LRT with grade separation or build a new Pacoima Metrolink transit station. 

Adding a new Metrolink station at the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road would include a “Mobility Hub” to facilitate transfers for riders between the ESFV LRT and Metrolink trains. It could also be designed to offer bike storage, restrooms, increased parking, access to bus transfers and open spaces for the community. 

Scenario 1 – Full Build LRT (Courtesy of Metro)

Scenario 2 – ESFV IOS with Metrolink Station (Courtesy of Metro)

Vice Mayor Mary Solorio suggested that if the decision was made to build a new Metrolink station, they could also update the Sylmar/San Fernando station with some of those proposed amenities.

Metro wants to hear from the community before making any decision about the northern segment of the ESFV LRT. 

On Friday, May 30, Metro will give a community presentation at the “Conversaciónes y Recursos” event from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at San Fernando Recreation Park. Attendees will get a chance to learn about the ESFV LTR, Metro’s ROW study, discount fare programs, CalFresh enrollment and the City of San Fernando Business and Community Resource Center. Metro will also be distributing 250 boxes of fresh produce while supplies last. 

Metro will have booths at the City of San Fernando Senior Fest on Friday, May 16, and the San Fernando Middle School Open House on Thursday, May 22, and will hold two community meetings, one virtual and one in-person. 

Virtual Community Meeting
Thursday, June 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Zoom link: bit.ly/ESFVROWMeeting

In-person Community Meeting
Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
Alicia Broadous-Duncan Multipurpose Senior Center 
1300 Glenoaks Bl, Pacoima, CA 91331

For more information about the ESF LTR, visit: https://www.metro.net/projects/east-sfv/.

Article Credit

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

May 14, 2025