A multibillion-dollar transit investment in Los Angeles is moving into major construction, adding new rail infrastructure intended to improve connections across the East San Fernando Valley. The Skanska-Stacy Witbeck joint venture has begun the construction phase of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, which will link communities along Van Nuys Boulevard with the wider regional transit network.
The $2.43 billion contract covers a 6.7-mile light rail line running at street level along Van Nuys Boulevard. The work also includes 11 new stations with shade structures and a 26-acre facility for rail operations and maintenance.
Utility relocations and improvements form part of the construction programme, adding coordination requirements alongside the rail corridor and station work. The project extends through the East San Fernando Valley, where the new line is intended to provide north-south transit connections.
Once operational, trains are expected to run every seven to 10 minutes during peak periods. The service is planned to connect residents with employment, education and health care destinations while linking the corridor to the broader Los Angeles Metro network.
The groundbreaking at Van Nuys Civic Center marked the transition into the project's major construction phase. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is among the public agencies involved in the transit development.
The Skanska-Stacy Witbeck partnership has previously worked together on five infrastructure and rail projects in Southern California, including the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project in downtown Los Angeles. That experience provides a background in regional infrastructure delivery for the current assignment.
The joint venture is also operating the San Fernando Transit Constructors Careers Academy. The programme offers professional development courses for people living in and around the project area who are interested in pursuing construction careers.
Construction is scheduled to finish in early 2032, establishing a multiyear delivery period for the rail line, stations, maintenance facilities and associated utility work.
The project combines rail construction, station development, utility work and supporting operational infrastructure under a single major contract. These components require coordination among construction teams, transit authorities and other stakeholders throughout delivery.
For construction owners and contractors, the development illustrates the scale of work involved in expanding urban transit systems, particularly where new infrastructure must be integrated into existing streets and utility networks. The careers academy also connects the construction programme with local workforce development.
The project's planned service frequency and regional connections position it as a significant addition to Los Angeles transit infrastructure, with completion targeted for early 2032.
Source: Skanka.
