The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) has announced that Phase 1 of the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor will become the second project to enter the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program.

The US$3.63 billion light rail line project will be developed in two phases, Southern and Northern Segments, and will connect 14 new stations. The project will link to L.A. Metro’s G (Orange) BRT line and the Metrolink Ventura County line. FTA intends to obligate 25% of the final net capital project cost or US$908.75 million, whichever is the less amount.

The construction for the Southern Segment is expected to start in late 2022. The project is planned to be operational in 2028.