The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) says it has received a strong response from firms bidding to help the agency accelerate the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project to be built as quickly as possible.
The proposals are part of L.A. Metro’s Pre-Development Agreement process for the project. The deadline for responding to the PDA Requests for Proposals (RFPs) ended on Aug. 26. L.A. Metro says it is greatly encouraged by the level of interest it has received.
The agency says the proposals are further evidence that there remains robust market interest to help develop the project, which will build a high-speed, high-capacity transit line directly connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside in an initial project phase, with a connection ultimately to LAX.
L.A. Metro will now spend several months evaluating the proposals. After selecting one or two highest ranked proposal(s), project staff will return with a recommendation to the L.A. Metro Board of Directors in early 2021.
A PDA with one or two of these firms would enable early contractor involvement in the project, allowing for innovations in design, engineering, construction approach, financing and operations. A private project developer would participate in defining and designing the project concept together with L.A. Metro and community stakeholders.
Once project development is complete, the remaining private project developer will then have an opportunity to offer to build, operate and maintain the line, potentially accelerating construction, improving project performance and mitigating key project challenges.