Last year, the passage of Measure M brought the promise of billions in new tax revenue to fund transportation and infrastructure projects throughout Los Angeles County.  Metro is now moving towards public-private partnerships to accelerate the construction of three of those projects - the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor, the West Santa Ana Branch and an expansion of the ExpressLanes network - according to an official announcement from the Source.

Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor

Two firms - Parsons Transportation Group and Cintra - submitted unsolicited proposals to accelerate construction of a transit line along Sepulveda Boulevard, arguably the lynchpin project of Measure M.

The approximately 20-mile corridor roughly parallels the 405 Freeway, and is cursed with one of the most congested segments of highway in the country - the Sepulveda Pass.  Past studies have indicated that a rail line along this corridor could serve more than 100,000 daily riders.

As approved by L.A. County Voters, the Measure M expenditure plan currently proposes three phases of construction.  Between 2024 and 2026, the 405 Freeway's carpool lanes would be converted into tolled lanes, similar to those on the 110 and 10 Freeways.This would be followed by a 12-mile segment between the Van Nuys Metrolink Station and the Purple Line's future Wilshire/Westwood Station, which would be constructed between 2024 and 2033 at a cost of $5.6 billion.  The final phase, running an additional eight miles to Los Angeles International Airport, would be built between 2048 and 2057 at a cost of $3.8 billion.

Metro is preparing a request for the transit portion of the project.

West Santa Ana Branch

Metro received two proposals for the West Santa Ana Branch from the infrastructure firms Skanska and Kiewit.  The eventual RFP will incorporate elements from both proposals.

The approximately 20-mile corridor, envisioned as a light rail line, runs between the City of Artesia and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles.  The Measure M expenditure plan scheduled an initial 10-mile segment between Artesia and the Metro Green Line to be built between 2022 and 2028.  The second phase between the Green Line and Downtown Los Angeles is scheduled for construction between 2032 and 2041.

The full project could ferry upwards of 75,000 daily passengers by 2040, with cost estimates between $3 billion and $4.5 billion.

ExpressLanes Network

Goldman Sachs has submitted a proposal to provide a "regional approach" to building out Metro's ExpressLanes network, which currently consists of toll lanes on the 110 and 10 Freeways.  Currently, Metro plans to expand the concept to existing carpool lanes on the 105 and 405 Freeways before 2029.  It is unclear how a public-private partnership would change this schedule.