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Not long ago I wrote about the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, the subway Metro wants to run under the Sepulveda Pass between the Valley and the Westside. Since then, the question I keep hearing from neighbors is a simple one: “Okay, but do I get a say in any of this?”
You do. And right now is one of the better windows you’ll get. Metro and the Federal Transit Administration are in what’s called a scoping period, and they’re taking public comments until November 18, 2026. One of the last in-person meetings is right here in Sherman Oaks on Monday night, November 16.
I’ve lived in Sherman Oaks for 30 years. I’ve watched plenty of big projects come and go, and I’ve learned that the people who show up early, while things are still being shaped, tend to have more influence than the people who show up once the fences go up. So I want to walk you through what this step is, what’s on the table, and how to take part, even if you only have ten minutes.
If you’d rather watch than read, here’s my video on the project from my YouTube channel. It covers the background and what it could mean for homeowners.
Wait, didn’t Metro already pick the route?
Sort of. This is where a lot of people get confused, so let me slow down on it.
In January 2026, the Metro Board selected what’s called a Locally Preferred Alternative. In plain English, that’s Metro saying, “Of all the options we studied, this is the one we want to move forward with.” According to Metro, that choice is underground heavy rail, a subway, running between the Van Nuys Metrolink Station and the E Line Expo/Sepulveda Station on the Westside, with a connection to the G Line and the planned East San Fernando Valley light rail line at Van Nuys Boulevard.
The Board also identified a shorter first phase, which Metro calls an Initial Operating Segment, of about 8.4 miles starting from the G Line at Van Nuys and heading south.
But picking a preferred option isn’t the same as final approval. The project still has to go through environmental review under both federal law (NEPA) and state law (CEQA). Metro describes the state document as a Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report. Scoping is the step that comes before that report gets written. It’s Metro asking the public, “Before we study this in detail, what should we be looking at?”
That’s why this matters. Comments made now help decide what gets studied. Once a study is done, it’s much harder to change what was in it.
What Metro is asking about
Metro’s notice lists three things it wants to hear about:
- The project’s purpose and need. Basically, why this line should exist and what problem it’s meant to solve.
- Project elements. This includes where stations go and where the maintenance and storage facility for the trains will be built.
- Potential environmental impacts. Things like noise, traffic during construction, and effects on the areas around stations and work sites.
If you own a home in Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys or anywhere near the 405, that middle item is the one I’d pay the closest attention to.
The piece nobody’s talking about: the rail yard
Everybody talks about stations. Hardly anybody talks about the maintenance and storage facility, which is where the trains get parked, cleaned and repaired. Every rail line needs one, and it’s a big piece of land with activity at all hours.
Metro’s project page says several possible locations for that facility will be evaluated. It hasn’t been settled. That’s exactly the kind of decision scoping is meant to inform, and it’s the kind of thing that can matter a lot to the blocks nearby.
I’m not telling you where it will go, because nobody knows yet. I’m telling you it’s on the table, and if you have thoughts about it, now is the time to share them.
The Sherman Oaks meeting: when and where
Here are the details as Metro lists them on its project page:
- Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to noon at the Marvin Braude Constituent Center, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys
- Monday, November 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd., Building B, Sherman Oaks
Metro says each meeting has the same information: an open house, a presentation, and a chance to give spoken comments to a court reporter, so they go into the official record. Spanish interpretation is provided at every scoping meeting. If you need an ADA accommodation or interpretation in another language, Metro asks you to call 213-922-7375 at least 72 hours ahead.
Metro also posted a recording of its earlier virtual session on the project page, if you’d like to see the presentation from home first.
Can’t make it? You can still comment
You don’t have to go to a meeting for your comment to count. Metro lists these other ways to weigh in:
- Online, through the comment form linked from Metro’s Sepulveda Transit Corridor page
- By email to sepulvedatransit@metro.net
- By phone at 213-922-7375
- By mail to Peter Carter, Project Manager, Metro, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-22-6, Los Angeles, CA 90012
All comments are due November 18, 2026. If you’re mailing one, I’d give yourself a few extra days.
How to write a comment that actually helps
You don’t need to be a planner or an engineer. Some of the most useful comments are short and specific. Here’s what I’d suggest:
- Say where you are. You don’t have to give your address. “I live a few blocks east of the 405, north of Ventura” tells them plenty.
- Be specific about one or two things. Construction traffic on your street, noise, parking near a future station, where the rail yard goes, or how you’d actually use the line. Pick what matters most to you.
- Ask a question you want answered. For example, “How will construction trucks get in and out near the Sherman Oaks station area?” Questions like that can shape what the study looks at.
- Keep it about the project and the place. Streets, buildings, traffic, noise, open space. That’s what the review is built to study.
Supportive comments count too. If you’d love a train that gets you over the hill without sitting on the 405, say so. Metro needs to hear from people who want it, not only from people with concerns.
What this means if you own a home here
I get asked all the time whether this project will raise or lower home values in Sherman Oaks. My honest answer is that nobody can promise either. There’s no opening year set, the design isn’t final, and the full funding still has to come together. Metro says it will share an updated timeline when one is available.
What I can tell you is what buyers do. When people walk through a home, they’re also thinking about the street, the commute, and what might be built nearby. A big public project like this is something they’ll ask about. If you’re thinking about selling in the next few years, it helps to understand where things stand, so you can answer honestly and calmly.
And if you’re staying put for the long haul, this is your neighborhood. A decision about a station or a rail yard can shape a few blocks for decades. Ten minutes on a comment form is a small price for having your voice in the record.
If you go on Monday night
If you head over to the Sherman Oaks meeting on the 16th, give yourself time to walk the open house before the presentation starts. That’s usually where the maps and boards are, and where you can ask Metro staff questions one on one. Bring a short list of what you want to know about your part of the neighborhood, and write down the answers. You can still send a written comment afterward, right up to the 18th.
As always, please go to the source. Metro’s project page has the official details, and dates and meeting info can change. Check it before you head out, and don’t take anyone’s summary as final, including mine.
If you’re a homeowner in Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino or nearby and you’re wondering how a project like this fits into your own plans, I’m always happy to talk it through. No pressure, just a straight conversation.
David Hitt
Broker Associate, CLHMS · Coldwell Banker Realty · DRE #01210537 · 818-422-1702
