L.A. Metro OKs San Fernando Valley contract, logs ridership increase

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority yesterday announced it has approved a $31 million pre-construction services contract with San Fernando Transit Constructors, a joint venture of Skanska USA Civil West California District Inc. and Stacy and Witbeck Inc.

The contract is for the East San Fernando Valley Light-Rail Transit Line Project, a 6.7-mile line and 11 new stations planned along Van Nuys Boulevard between Van Nuys and Pacoima, California, L.A. Metro officials said in a press release.

The transit agency will use a design-build construction methodology to build the light-rail line, L.A. Metro officials said.

As part of phase one, the joint venture partners will review existing design work, conduct a constructability review and perform engineering, cost estimating and scheduling. The firms will also complete design validation, identify and negotiate early works packages and develop the scope of work and price in preparation for the project's second phase, L.A. Metro officials said.

Construction will begin after the firms and L.A. Metro agree on a guaranteed maximum price.

Meanwhile, L.A. Metro yesterday reported a 12% ridership increase in 2022 over 2021's level.

The transit agency recorded 255 million rides during the year, up from the 227 million recorded in 2021, L.A. Metro officials said. Rail ridership rose nearly 20% year over year.