The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has awarded a $2.43bn contract to a joint venture (JV) between Skanska and Stacy Witbeck to deliver the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project in Van Nuys, California, US.
Building on earlier preconstruction and early-works agreements, the contract covers the design and construction of a new light rail line connecting several neighbourhoods along Van Nuys Boulevard.
The project will include building a 10.8km at-grade light rail line, along with a 10.5ha (26-acre) rail and maintenance facility.
Plans call for 11 new stations with shade structures, as well as utility improvements and relocations along the route.
The line is intended to provide improved public transport across communities including Panorama City, Pacoima, and Arleta. It will form a new link to the existing G-Line, supporting efforts to expand transit connectivity across the Los Angeles area.
According to Skanska, the contract is structured as a Progressive Design-Build, which has enabled early collaboration among builders, designers, LA Metro, and local stakeholders.
This approach was adopted to enable joint design reviews, early engagement to address third‑party constraints, and refinement of construction methods before full-scale work begins.
The aim is to manage risk, cost, and project schedule as construction progresses.
Skanska USA Civil’s West Coast operations executive vice-president James Bailey said: “The East San Fernando Valley Light Rail project is an investment in mobility for the region.
“The Progressive Design-Build delivery method enabled us to collaborate closely with LA Metro from day one, bringing designers, builders, stakeholders, and community members together to make informed decisions and help shape a light rail system that will serve the East San Fernando Valley for generations to come.”
Stacy Witbeck project manager Eric Meisgeier said: “Delivering the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail requires getting every detail right, from utility coordination through revenue service, across some of the most active urban corridors in Los Angeles.
“We will construct this project with the same focus on the work and respect for the community to deliver a project the San Fernando Valley can be proud of.”
The contract includes both design and construction elements. Work on the project began in July 2026, with completion expected in December 2031.
Skanska will record its share of the contract, valued at $957m, in its US order bookings for the third quarter of 2026.
Last month, Skanska was appointed by Boulevardfastigheter to construct a new city campus for Kristianstad University in central Kristianstad, Sweden.
