San Fernando Valley Pushes Metro to Address Transit Needs

Built for industry and known for sprawl, the Valley has long preserved its suburban geography. Now that its population is close to 40 percent of the city of Los Angeles, area leaders are speaking up for mass transit.

2 minute read

September 20, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By Elana Eden


Many Valley residents feel that a 2008 county sales tax known as Measure R, which led to a major build-out of public transit across the Los Angeles area, overlooked the Valley's needs. Today, the area is desperate for two major projects: a partially-underground, double-decker tunnel that would relieve one of the most congested freeways in Los Angeles; and the conversion of a popular bus route, bursting at the seams with ridership still growing, to rail.

But due to Measure R's funding structure and to changes in city administration (a mayoral transition, for one), those projects are seriously lagging—leaving the Valley still lacking meaningful transportation options. Meanwhile, Valley advocates note, projects on the Westside are in full swing. As Metro gears up to propose another half-cent sales tax, known as Measure R2, Valley leaders see a chance to renew focus on the area’s pressing transportation needs.

One important voice in that effort is Richard Katz, a former member of the California State Assembly who has also served on the boards of Metro, Metrolink, and the High-Speed Rail Authority. As the new chair of the Valley Economic Alliance, he’s now working to ensure that when Metro budgets up to $40 billion for projects throughout the county, the Valley gets its fair share.

In The Planning Report, Katz identifies the Valley's top priorities for funding under Measure R2. Drawing on decades of past experience, he touches on the utility of public-private partnerships, adapting to high-speed rail and other changing technology, and why it would be in Metro’s best interest to take the Valley seriously:

"In order to get voters to vote for a countywide sales tax, they have to know there’s an overarching vision for an interconnected, interoperable system," he says. "I don’t think people countywide vote for small ball, because that’s mostly stuff done in other people’s neighborhoods."

Having worked on transportation throughout Southern California, Katz can neatly explain how supporting the Valley's goals will strengthen transportation efforts throughout L.A. County and the region:

"Unlike elected officials, [voters] don’t care what jurisdiction they’re in if they’re on San Fernando Road or Sepulveda Boulevard and aren’t going anywhere. They just want the problem solved."

Wednesday, September 16, 2015 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

July 14 - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press