“A direct rail connection through the Sepulveda Pass will connect people to jobs, schools, airports and entertainment faster than ever,” Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra, a Whittier City Council member, said in a statement.

The selected option, known as Modified Alternative 5, is a high-capacity heavy-rail line that would provide a north-south transit connection between Van Nuys and Westwood, with a future extension planned to Los Angeles International Airport. The line would use fully automated, driverless train technology—a first for the Metro system. 

The project is currently estimated to cost about $25 billion. Metro said the estimate will be updated as design work continues, including development of a phased construction strategy that would prioritize an initial operating segment between the Valley and UCLA. 

Funding currently comes from county sales tax measures approved by voters — Measure R in 2008 and Measure M in 2016. Metro said additional funding will be needed and is expected to include a mix of federal, state and local sources, as well as potential private financing through a public-private partnership.

The board selected the heavy-rail option over several monorail alternatives that were expected to be cheaper and faster to build but were rejected because they would operate more slowly and carry fewer passengers.

The locally preferred alternative is a modification of a heavy-rail plan developed by STCP, a consortium led by Bechtel. Under the public-private partnership model, STCP will continue refining the design with Metro. The partnership could eventually lead to a long-term agreement to build, operate and potentially help finance the project, Metro spokesperson Mallory Mead said.

The project would include a fully underground, single-bore, 13-mile subway with seven stations, connecting the Van Nuys Metrolink station to the E Line on the Westside.

Construction would require deep tunneling through the Santa Monica Mountains, with portions of the tunnel reaching depths of up to 500 feet to avoid residential areas and complex geologic conditions. While the project poses numerous technical challenges, agency officials say they are confident they are manageable.

“Since 1993, Metro has successfully built more than 30 miles of rail projects in underground tunnels that are now part of Los Angeles County’s transit network,” said Cecily Way, senior executive officer for countywide planning and development at Metro.

The board's decision allows Metro to move forward in developing the final Environmental Impact Report and any environmental documentation required as a result of selecting the LPZ.  The agency will also move forward with definig an Initial Operating Segment and phasing plan for the project. Offical said the public-private partnership delivery model under consideration may also include refinements to allow a future connection to the G Line at Van Nuys Boulevard.