Angelenos Invited to Weigh In on Proposed Solutions to Alleviate Congestion in Sepulveda Pass, Improve Trip Reliability Between San Fernando Valley, Westside
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), today announced the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/DEIS) for the I-405 Sepulveda Pass ExpressLanes Project. The draft environmental document evaluates potential options designed to alleviate severe bottlenecks, increase traffic speeds and provide reliable, safe, flexible travel options through the pass. The public review and comment period is officially open and will run through Jan. 19, 2027.
“Expanding our existing transit network by connecting the San Fernando Valley to the Westside is essential to our region’s economy and quality of life,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Karen Bass. “We are taking action to improve mobility, ease commutes, and increase travel time reliability for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters as we lay the groundwork for the transformational Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project. Releasing this environmental document is an important step toward transforming one of the nation’s busiest corridors, and I encourage all Angelenos to make their voices heard.”
A Critical Lifeline Needing New Solutions
The I-405 through the Sepulveda Pass is a critical lifeline for greater Los Angeles, carrying approximately 300,000 vehicles every weekday between the US-101 and the I-10. The corridor serves a region encompassing nearly 20 percent of California’s population and jobs. The Santa Monica Mountains create a natural barrier that causes severe bottlenecks, leaving drivers stranded in unpredictable congestion that resulted in an average of 56 hours of yearly delay per commuter in 2019. During peak commute hours in the carpool lanes, the average travel speed is less than 45 miles per hour and is classified as degraded by Caltrans.
Taking a multi-faceted approach to improving traffic on the I-405, Metro and Caltrans are evaluating a range of coordinated regional initiatives, including the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project, to expand travel options between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. The project area will include 10 miles along the 1-405, from the 1-10 to the US-101. The Draft EIR/EIS examines four alternatives, from maintaining the existing roadway to adding new carpool or ExpressLanes. These choices are designed to improve mobility, with multi-lane ExpressLanes projected to deliver the greatest improvements in speed and travel time reliability.
The alternatives can be found here: metro.net/405expresslanes.
Connecting to Los Angeles County’s ExpressLanes Network
This project is part of Metro’s broader initiative to improve travel and connectivity across Los Angeles County. ExpressLanes are currently in operation on the I-10 and the I-110, under construction on the I-105, and being considered for future extension on the I-10 in addition to the I-605 corridor. Each project is separate, with its own schedule, environmental review process and opportunities for public input.
“We know that congestion on the I-405 takes a significant toll on commuters, costing them valuable time every day,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “The proposed ExpressLanes project is about giving people more options to get where they need to go, whether that means carpooling for free or choosing the toll lanes for a more reliable trip when every minute counts.”
Where to View Documents
The DEIR/DEIS is available online at metro.net/405ExpressLanes. A list of locations where the DEIR/DEIS is in print can also be found on the project page.
How to Submit Comments
Public comments on the DEIR/DEIS must be received by Tuesday, January 19, 2027. Comments can be submitted through the following options:
- Online Portal: metro.net/405expresslanes
- Email: 405expresslanes@metro.net, with the subject line “I-405 ExpressLanes Project”
- Phone Hotline: 213.922.4860
- Mail: Anna Johnson, Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Division of Environmental Planning, Caltrans District 7, 100 South Main Street, MS16A, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Metro will hold a series of public hearings and neighborhood listening sessions during the public comment period:
- Virtual Public Hearing
- Tuesday, Dec. 1, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Web Link: bit.ly/405ExpressLanesPublicHearing
- Phone (English): 213.338.8477 (Webinar ID: 861 4302 2134)
- Phone (Spanish): 571.317.3112 (Meeting ID: 657-180-269)
- San Fernando Valley In-Person Hearing
- Wednesday, Dec. 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403
- Westside In-Person Hearing
- Tuesday, Jan. 12, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024
Neighborhood Listening Sessions
- Santa Clarita Valley Listening Session
- Saturday, Jan. 9, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Old Town Newhall Farmers Market & Library Community Room, 24500 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
- San Fernando Valley Listening Session
- Sunday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- ONEGeneration Encino Farmers Market, 17400 Victory Boulevard, Van Nuys, Calif. 91406
- South Bay Listening Session
- Wednesday, Jan. 13, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Hawthorne Library, 12700 Grevillea Avenue, Hawthorne, Calif. 90250
Following the public comment period, Metro and Caltrans will compile responses to all comments received and release a Final EIR/EIS identifying the Preferred Alternative in Fall 2027. The project is partially funded by Measure M, the Los Angeles County sales tax approved by voters in 2016, which allocates money to fund this and numerous other projects around the county.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility. Metro is the lead planner, funder, builder, and operating agency for public transportation in L.A. County and carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six rail lines. The latest customer experience survey, fielded in July 2026, showed that customer satisfaction with Metro has risen to 87%.
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