Residents in Los Angeles, who typically navigate the 405 during their commutes, may soon find some much-needed relief through a significant investment. After considerable discussions, the L.A. Metro Commission has given the green light for a heavy-rail subway system to tackle the congested Sepulveda Corridor, an area notorious for its traffic issues.
Traveling by train in this corridor will take only 18 minutes—much better than the average 90-minute drive that many endure. The estimated cost for this project stands at around $24 billion.
This automated subway will stretch beneath Van Nuys Boulevard and traverse the mountain pass to reach Santa Monica, with additional stops at Ventura, Wilshire, and Santa Monica Boulevard.
Several alternatives were explored, including the possibility of a monorail above the highway. In contrast, Elon Musk has criticized the city’s multi-billion dollar investment into tunnel construction, suggesting that his boring company could offer a more economical method for underground digging.
The designs from The Boring Company feature narrower tunnels intended for electric vehicles rather than high-capacity trains, with smaller stations and fewer safety features.
Traffic jams have plagued the Sepulveda Pass for decades—it’s often cited as the busiest highway globally, serving as a key route between the Valley and the West Side, yet it’s constantly congested.
However, constructing the subway may face challenges, particularly from residents in Bel Air who have expressed concerns about the potential dangers of underground work during a significant earthquake.
Metro anticipates that the subway could be operational by 2038, but, as always, projects like this tend to take a long time to materialize.
