405 Lane Alternatives

From LA Metro:

I-405 Sepulveda Pass ExpressLanes

Metro, in coordination with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is studying potential improvements to the I-405 between the I-10  and the US-101 through the Sepulveda Pass, to support safer travel, make travel times more reliable and move people through the corridor more efficiently. The four alternatives being studied include:

• Keeping the freeway as it is today (No Build).
• Converting the existing carpool lane to an ExpressLane in each direction;
• Converting the existing carpool lane to an ExpressLane and adding a second ExpressLane in each direction;
• Keeping the existing carpool lane and adding a second carpool lane in each direction.

No alternative has been selected.

Metro ExpressLanes are designed to provide more reliable travel times by adjusting tolls based on traffic conditions. A toll is a fee to use the ExpressLanes. Tolls increase or decrease to help manage the number of vehicles using the lane and keep traffic moving. Carpools that meet occupancy requirements, vanpools and transit vehicles with a FasTrakFlex transponder can use ExpressLanes without paying a toll, while solo drivers can choose to pay a toll. Drivers who choose not to use the ExpressLane can continue to use the regular lanes without paying a toll. A FasTrakFlex transponder allows drivers to indicate how many people are in the vehicle so the appropriate toll can be determined. The current toll range on the I-10/I-110 ExpressLanes is $0.10-$3.30/mile.

Metro and Caltrans are studying alternatives to understand how each could affect travel, communities and the environment. The Draft Environmental Document, also called the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) /Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), is anticipated to be released in late 2026 for public review and comment, including public hearings and other engagement activities.

 Full announcement at https://i-405-sepulveda-pass-expresslanes-lametro.hub.arcgis.com/.

The Plan

There is a plan that - someday - there will be a train from Panorama City to Westwood/UCLA and points south. From LA Metro:

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor is a proposed high-capacity rail line that will provide a crucial north-south transit connection between the San Fernando Valley, the Westside and eventually Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to address one of the most heavily traveled and congested corridors in Los Angeles County.

In January 2026, the Metro Board of Directors selected a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the project consisting of underground heavy-rail transit between the Van Nuys Metrolink Station and the Metro E Line Expo/Sepulveda Station with a connection to the Metro G Line and the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Line at Van Nuys Boulevard. The Metro Board also identified an Initial Operating Segment (IOS) alternative, extending approximately 8.4 miles between the Wilshire/Westwood Station and the G Line/Van Nuys Station. The project would require construction of a maintenance and storage facility for rail vehicles, with several potential location options to be evaluated. 

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metro are now holding a scoping period before the formal preparation of an environmental document under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  

Stakeholders are invited to comment on the project's purpose and need; project elements, including station and maintenance/storage facility locations; and potential environmental impacts. Learn more at the Project Hub.

Comments may be provided at the scoping meetings, online, via email, via phone at 213.922.7375, or by mail to Peter Carter, Project Manager, Metro, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-22-6, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Comments are due November 18, 2026

Scoping Meeting Details 

Wednesday, November 4, 12-1pm.
Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/STC-Nov4
Call-in Number: 213.338.8477
Webinar ID: 822 7276 3299

Saturday, November 7, 3-5pm
Culver City Veterans Memorial
Building Multipurpose Room
4117 Overland Av
Culver City, CA 90230

Tuesday, November 10, 5:30pm- 7:30pm
Westwood United Methodist Church
10497 Wilshire Bl
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Saturday, November 14, 10am- 12pm
Marvin Braude Constituent Center
6262 Van Nuys Bl
Los Angeles, CA 91401

Monday, November 16, 5:30pm- 7:30pm
Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center
5056 Van Nuys Bl, Building B
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Source: https://www.metro.net/projects/sepulvedacorridor/. 

Free Bus - Part 2 (history)

Back on Sept. 17, we posted about a free bus program at UCLA for employees below a specified pay level. Now a bit of history:

In the early 2000s, UCLA had a more comprehensive BruinGo free bus program financed out of parking fees. The late Prof. Don Shoup evaluated the program and found it to be a success by any measure. See:

https://dn760109.eu.archive.org/0/items/CompetitionForNaturalResourcesInCaliforniasSierraNevada/Unlimited%20Access%20-%20An%20Evaluation%20of%20the%20UCLA%20BruinGo%20Program%20and%20its%20Lessons%20for%20California.pdf 

But the program was nonetheless terminated.

So now we have a lesser version of what we once had. Just saying...

Source of image above: 

https://www.facebook.com/UCLA/posts/pfbid02MqA3rJwTYTbG32qLDdea5KHQieiKyvXcCN15dmBbxXepS94JQ6JPyoHaGT9f4Zval.

Free Bus

From UCLA Newsroom: UCLA is helping ease employees’ commute to campus — and reducing their carbon footprint — by expanding access to its fare-free public transit program. UCLA employees earning less than six figures annually are now eligible for a free quarterly transit pass that provides unlimited access to 13 major Southern California transit systems, including L.A. Metro’s bus, rail and Metro Micro services, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Long Beach Transit, LADOT Transit, Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Santa Clarita Transit, Foothill Transit, Gardena GTrans, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit System, Pasadena Transit and Torrance Transit.

...Modeled after income-based health insurance tiers, the Tier 1 Plus program provides a free quarterly transit pass to UCLA and UCLA Health employees who hold at least a 43.75% appointment and earn less than $100,000 annually. Roughly 20,000 employees are eligible...

Full announcement at https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-transportation-free-public-transit-employees-less-than-100000.

Particularly if you take the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, just be careful what bus you get on:

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKJa-KQNjQU.

The 405 This Weekend

From Patch: Traffic will once again be impacted on the 405 Freeway and nearby roads beginning Friday when construction will shut down several lanes and ramps of the interstate in the Sepulveda Pass and San Fernando Valley for the entire weekend.

Here's a look at the closures, planned for 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 through 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14:

• The southbound 405 will be reduced to three lanes between Ventura Boulevard and Mulholland Drive
• The Ventura Boulevard on-ramp to the southbound 405 will be closed
• The southbound 405 off-ramp to Valley Vista Boulevard/Sepulveda Boulevard will be closed
• The Valley Vista Boulevard/Sepulveda Boulevard on-ramp to the southbound 405 will be closed
• The northbound 405 off-ramp to Getty Center Drive will be closed

Source: https://patch.com/california/santamonica/s/kq755/major-405-freeway-closures-return-friday-last-through-monday.

Don't even walk on Wilshire

We've been advising you not to drive on Wilshire near UCLA due to subway construction. Now you shouldn't even walk there. See below:

Wilshire Bl: North Sidewalk Closure 

Summary 

Construction of two emergency stair exits for the UCLA Station will result in a full closure of the north sidewalk along Wilshire Bl between Gayley Av and Westwood Bl starting August 17, 2026, through December.

During this closure, entry to LA Fitness from Wilshire Bl and the Wilshire Bl entrance to the Westwood Medical Plaza will be closed continuously. Visitors may access the buildings through alternate entrances.

There will also be intermittent closures of the south sidewalk along Wilshire Bl between Gayley Av and Westwood Bl to accommodate concrete pours and material deliveries. Most of these activities are anticipated to occur during night shift operations (9pm to 5am) to minimize impacts.

Should both the north and south sides of this Wilshire Bl sidewalk are closed simultaneously, pedestrians will be temporarily detoured via Lindbrook Av.

Noteworthy

All work has received the necessary permits and approvals. 

Access to driveways, residences & businesses will be maintained at all times unless notified in advance. 

Access for pedestrians will be maintained outside of construction zones. 

Access for the Fire Department and emergency responders will be maintained. 

Parking restrictions will be implemented in the immediate area of the work zone. 

Construction is dynamic and schedules are subject to change. 

24/7 Hotline: 213-922-6934 

Closure Map

Source: https://cloud.sfmc.metro.net/WilshireBl_NorthSidewalkClosure.

Electric Buses

UCLA began using electric buses in 2016, as the photo above shows. More are planned for the Olympics in 2028, including a wireless charging arrangement built into the street. Local congressional rep Ted Lieu reportedly got $250,000 in federal money recently for such buses at UCLA.

Source of information: https://dailybruin.com/2026/08/12/north-westwood-neighborhood-council-recap-aug-5; https://www.facebook.com/RepTedLieu/photos/1564004928417906/.

Increased bus service

Service Changes Begin August 9, 2026

Beginning Sunday, August 9, service improvements designed to make riding easier, faster, and more convenient go into effect! Riders will benefit from expanded service hours and enhanced access and connectivity on multiple routes serving the UCLA campus, UCLA Medical Center, and Westwood/Rancho Park Metro Rail E Line Station.

These enhancements are part of our ongoing Brighter Blue service improvement plan, which focuses on making public transit a more appealing alternative to driving and supports Santa Monica's commitment to a cleaner, greener future.

Use our trip planner or download the Transit app  to plan your trip and view the most up-to-date travel information. Our Customer Service team is available Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., to help you get where you're going. Give us a call at (310) 451-5444.

NOTE: Details by route at:

https://www.bigbluebus.com/Routes-And-Schedules/ServiceChanges.aspx.

On or Off?

From the Sacramento Bee: A sudden $12 million federal funding cut last year forced a UC Davis transportation research center and its partners to halt dozens of projects, disrupt student research and scramble for replacement money — setting off a legal fight that has left the center’s future uncertain more than a year later. The National Center for Sustainable Transportation quickly suspended research already underway and delayed projects scheduled to begin.

“Except for the Great Recession we haven’t had anything like this,” said Fraser Shilling, whose project modeling how traffic light and sound affects nearby wildlife was halted. “It was kind of like an administration-imposed recession on academia.”

The center was one of multiple university programs affected when the Trump administration canceled $54 million in previously awarded grants for programs that used “woke” terms in their applications, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation news release. The cut began a more than yearlong scramble to rearrange projects, seek private donations and fight for the funding in federal court as part of Thakur v. Trump, said center director Susan Handy. Although a judge ordered the funding restored late last year, the center’s work and employees have remained in flux as the lawsuit continues and the possibility remains that the money could disappear again...

Full story at https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article316689358.html.

Possible Trump Jam on the 405 Today

There could be problems on the 405 south of UCLA today due to a presidential motorcade.

From Patch: President Donald Trump is scheduled to make a rare visit to Los Angeles County on Tuesday, speaking at a Republican National Committee dinner at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes...

Although no official arrival plans have been announced, presidential visits to Southern California often involve Air Force One landing at Los Angeles International Airport before the president continues by helicopter or motorcade. Officials have not said whether that will be the case Tuesday. No traffic advisories had been issued Monday by the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department or other local agencies as they don't announce the president's route in advance for security purposes. Residents planning to travel Tuesday, particularly near Los Angeles International Airport, the Harbor area or the Palos Verdes Peninsula, may want to allow extra time and check traffic conditions before heading out. Previous presidential visits to the Los Angeles area have resulted in temporary freeway closures, rolling traffic holds and road closures along motorcade routes, sometimes with little advance notice...

Full story at https://patch.com/california/palosverdes/trump-make-rare-trip-la-county-give-rnc-speech-his-golf-course.

Note: This could have been a special problem for UCLA if someone had found a use for its $80 million Palos Verdes campus acquisition. But so far nobody has.

Don't tell the governor

Governor Newsom (also ex officio Regent Newsom) hasn't been keen on state employees telecommuting. It's been a sore point between him and state unions. According to the latest annual UCLA State of the Commute report on commuting, one fourth of university employees are telecommuting.*

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*https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9146eed6fc5c4b7a9329dedce6200926.

So they won't be what they're cracked up to be?

From the Daily Bruin: Long-awaited sidewalk repairs are coming to Westwood this year, according to documents from the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering. The city will repair sidewalks in areas in Westwood, including parts of Veteran Avenue, Levering Avenue, Landfair Avenue and Gayley Avenue, according to a pending request document from the bureau.

The design period for the repairs ended in April after beginning in October 2025. Construction will last from October 2026 to October 2027, according to the repair program package...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2026/04/23/westwood-sidewalk-repairs-will-start-this-year-city-says.

More Subway Construction This Month

 

Westwood/UCLA Station Construction Summary   Workers continue constructing the future Westwood/UCLA Station within UCLA Lot 36. Activities may require temporary lane closures to access this site. Work includes hauling, utility removal, material delivery, concrete pours, and backfilling excavations. Work will continue through April 30, 2026.  To reduce impacts to stakeholders, Metro contractors will implement intermittent traffic closures. Closures may impact westbound Wilshire Bl between Westwood Bl and Veteran Av, crosswalks on Wilshire Bl and Gayley Av, southbound right turn pockets at Gayley Av/Wilshire Bl (dual right turns impacted), and Westwood Bl/Wilshire Bl.  Date  Through April 30, 2026  Work Hours  Weekdays and Weekends  5 am to 4 pm  7:30 pm to 5 am  Hauling Daytime Hours  6:30 am to 5 pm  Noteworthy  All work has received necessary permits and approvals.  Access for pedestrians will be maintained outside of construction zones.  Access for the fire department and emergency responders will be maintained.  Parking restrictions will be implemented in the immediate area of the work zone.  Construction is dynamic and schedules are subject to change.  24/7 Hotline: 213-922-6934  Metro Access  Metro bus stops may be relocated, or lines could be impacted. For more information on changes to Metro service, please call 323.GoMetro, or visit metro.net/triplanner  === Construction at Wilshire Bl/Westwood Bl for Station Entrance Summary  Decking installation at the southeast entrance of the Westwood/UCLA Station is scheduled to begin the weekend of April 10. Work is anticipated from Fridays at 9 pm through Mondays at 6 am. There may be additional periodic night closures.  This work will construct the final of the Westwood/UCLA Station entrances and will require lane reductions on eastbound Wilshire Bl, from west of Veteran Av to Westwood Bl. Additional lane reductions will be taken on Veteran Av just north and south of Wilshire Bl. Some Wilshire Bl sidewalks will be closed so please follow detour signage.   Work will include installation of K-Rail and fencing, deck installation, set up and breakdown of temporary traffic control, and hauling.   Date April 10 - April 17 Work Hours 9 pm Friday through 6 am Monday Traffic Control Wilshire Bl will be closed between Galey Av/Midvale Av and Westwood Bl. Eastbound traffic on Wilshire Bl will be detoured north, onto Galey Av and south, onto Midvale Av. Traffic will remain open on westbound Wilshire Bl; please follow all detour signage. Metro Access Metro bus stops may be relocated, or lines could be impacted. Please call 323.GoMetro for details. Noteworthy   All work has received necessary permits and approvals.  Access for pedestrians will be maintained outside of the construction zone.  Access for emergency responders will be maintained.  Construction is a dynamic process and the schedule is subject to change.  24/7 Hotline: 213-922-6934  Detour Routes:

Westwood Boulevard Project

As blog readers will know, there is a plan to rejigger traffic on Westwood Boulevard from UCLA all the way to the light rail station on Exposition Boulevard.* The changes involve carving out bus lanes and bicycle lanes. A Zoom meeting last Thursday evening which yours truly attended provided more detail.

City staff on the Zoom call referred to a ballot proposition passed by voters that required certain elements at a minimum. These included bus lanes between UCLA and Wilshire and a protected bicycle lane between Ohio and Santa Monica Blvd. Between Santa Monica Blvd. and the light rail station at Exposition Blvd., bicycle lanes (apparently not protected) are required.

However, the City plans to go beyond the minimums and will install protected bike lanes over the entire route. Bus lanes will extend from Santa Monica Blvd. to UCLA. Bus lanes will be earmarked for buses 24/7.

It was said that emergency vehicles, such as ambulances going to UCLA hospital, would be able to use the bus lanes. (It wasn't clear to yours truly how this would work. Normally, when an ambulance siren is heard, vehicles are supposed to pull over to the right to allow passage. But the bus lane will be at the right against a protected bike lane. If there is a bus in the lane, how would it pull over for the ambulance?)

In any case, the goal is to get all this work done before the 2028 Olympics. However, City staff indicated that the work might not be complete by then. If it isn't complete, construction equipment, etc., would be removed. (It wasn't clear how a half-done construction job wouldn't adversely affect traffic flows in the UCLA area during the Olympics.)

City staff said their models of traffic flow would only increase travel time by a minute and a half at peak hours and directions.

There is information about the Westwood Project at:

https://ladotlivablestreets.org/projects/westwood

City staff said the slides from the Zoom would be available there and maybe a recording. As of the writing of this posting, they weren't there.

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*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2026/03/changing-westwood.html.

Changing Westwood

The Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation is proposing major traffic changes along Westwood Boulevard including in Westwood Village. There would be a separate bike land, bus-only lane, parking lane, and regular traffic lane. As you can see below, the plan in principle becomes final over the coming summer and is to be implemented in 2027.

There will be an online meeting to discuss this project (which extends beyond Westwood Village and also includes Ohio Avenue) on March 19 at 6 pm. You should be able to register at:

bit.ly/OhioWestwood

Getting closer

The D line subway will extend along Wilshire to La Cienaga starting May 8. The extension after that gets to Century City in Spring 2027. The further extension to UCLA and the VA is due in Fall 2027, in time for the Olympics.

Info at https://www.metro.net/d-line-extension/.

So, we're getting closer..

but no cigar yet.

The 405 approaches

Construction of the 405 approaches UCLA in 1957.

Reminder

From Santa Monica Patch: Traffic is expected to be impacted on the 405 Freeway and nearby roads this weekend when construction will shut down several lanes on both sides of the interstate near the Sepulveda Pass.

And another weekend-long closure is planned for March.

The freeway will be reduced to three lanes in each direction in the area of the Getty Center from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 through 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9. Additionally, one off-ramp will be closed...

Construction has been underway on the 405 Freeway in and near the Sepulveda Pass since June as part of the I-405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, a $143.7 million project to improve safety and mobility along the freeway and extend the life of its pavement, according to Caltrans...

Full story at https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/weekend-long-closure-405-freeway-begins-friday.

Rules of the Common-Wheel of UCLA

From the Bruin: All electric scooters and bikes used on campus or stored in UCLA-owned housing must be certified and registered starting Nov. 20, UCLA administrators [have] announced. Electric personal mobility devices – which include personal e-scooters, e-bike and e-skateboards – must be UL-certified and registered with UCLA Transportation to promote campus safety, according to [an] email sent by Michael Beck, administrative vice chancellor, Monroe Gorden, vice chancellor for student affairs and Steve Lurie, associate vice chancellor for campus and community safety. 

UL-certification is a safety standard that confirms a device’s battery and electrical parts have been tested to prevent mechanical failure, shock and fire, the administrators added in the email. They also said in the email that registration will make it easier to identify lost or stolen devices and return them to their rightful owners...

Full story at https://dailybruin.com/2026/01/26/ucla-announces-registration-certification-mandate-for-electric-scooters-bikes.

Lane Squeeze Coming Next Weekend

Caltrans Announces I-405 Reduced to Three Lanes in Each Direction Through the Sepulveda Pass: February 2026 Schedule

Caltrans announces extended weekend lane reductions along Interstate 405 (I-405) through the Sepulveda Pass. The freeway will be reduced to three lanes in each direction and motorists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes and explore public transportation options to reach their destinations.

Commuters can expect extended weekend lane reductions on the following: 

10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, through 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9

Motorists traveling along I-405 will experience the following lane reductions and ramp closures:

Northbound I-405

• Reduced to three lanes between just south of Getty Center Drive/Sepulveda Blvd. off-ramp to just north of Bel Air Crest Road
• Getty Center Drive off-ramp closed

Southbound I-405

• Reduced to three lanes between Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive on-ramp to Getty Center Drive/Sepulveda Blvd. on-ramp

Alternate Routes for I-405

• Sepulveda Boulevard to northbound I-405: Travel north on Sepulveda Boulevard and then east/north on Skirball Center Drive to the on-ramp to northbound I-405
• Sepulveda Boulevard to southbound I-405: Travel south on Sepulveda Boulevard and then south on Church Lane to the Sunset Boulevard on-ramp to southbound I-405

Extended Weekend Lane Reductions will occur about every two weeks along various sections of I-405, unless noted otherwise. There will be about 25 extended weekend lane reductions for this project. Due to weather or operational reasons, the schedule is subject to change including the times and dates of closures, the number of lanes closed and other details.

Residents and businesses located near construction may experience noise, vibrations and dust associated with construction activities...

This work is part of the I-405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project between the Los Angeles communities of Van Nuys and Westwood along the Sepulveda Pass. This project will apply about $143.7 million toward improving the safety and mobility along I-405 between Van Nuys and Westwood as well as extend the pavement life...

Full release at https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-7/district-7-news/d7-i405-extended-weekend-sepulveda-pass-feb-2026.