If You Can’t Repair a Bike Path, Can You Build a Subway through Sepulveda?

Homeless started living under a collapsed bike path bridge.

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board approved a heavy rail transit underground that will connect the San Fernando Valley with the Westside of Los Angeles. It will supposedly serve 120,000 transit riders and carry commuters from the Valley to the Westside in 10 minutes.

In 2023, the cost to tunnel through the Sepulveda Pass was put at $24.5 billion, with the initial funding set at $2.54 billion. Metro anticipates the need for additional funding and financing for the project, including from federal, state and local sources, as well as private investment.

The final cost, if its completed?

Thank Bullet Train. In 2008, voters approved a fast rail system that would connect San Francisco to Los Angeles with a cost between $33 billion to $45 billion and would be completed by 2020. The price tag to complete it is now estimated more than $100 billion and of the 119 miles of track, none has been laid.

Regarding the new tunnel under the Sepulveda Pass, Supervisor Horvath said, “This is a generational investment in the future of Los Angeles County. This project is about giving families time back, cutting pollution, and creating a transit system people want to use.”

Many in Pacific Palisades are familiar with “transit” projects led by Horvath. In May 2023, Horvath dedicated a newly constructed .6-mile path of the continuation of Marvin Braude Bike Trail. That L.A. County project cost $6.5 million.

Less than two years later, in February 2024, part of the bridge collapsed during heavy rains. Then CTN asked about repairs and was told by Horvath’s field deputy that they were waiting for Coastal Commission before repairing the existing bridge. “Hopefully we’ll be starting before the summer so it will be ready for next summer and will be there for many more summers to come.”

It was short-lived optimism because a year later in February 2025, the remainder of the bike path collapsed during heavy rains.

Three months later, CTN reached out to Horvath’s office about the repairs and Kerjon Lee, chief communications director for Los Angeles Public Works said. “The damage occurred during a federally declared disaster (the winter storms),” he said. “This makes the repair of the bridge eligible for funding by FEMA.”

The new construction on the newly constructed path/bridge, which the County called repairs was set at $4.2 million.

CTN asked if there was any investigation about the cause of the failure of the bridge.

Lee said, “It was a combination of the December King Tides and intense February storms. There was no issue with bridge design or flaws in construction.”

Coastal Commission told CTN it had approved repairs in March 2025 . . .

In August of 2025, according to Zachary Gaidzik, Horvath’s field deputy, the delays for the project stemmed from the Coastal Commission and further erosion, but the project would begin anew August 4, 2025.

But then “poop spray” became a problem.

A resident wrote to Horvath, “Each morning, we walk through the Roosevelt Tunnel [pedestrian tunnel that connects the Canyon at Chautauqua to the beach] and onto the beach path. Today, as we returned, we noticed a hose blowing out dirty muddy dark muck into the air.  It was connected by motor into the pond that us locals fondly call Polio Pond. It has this name as it represents all the toxic run-off bacterial infested water.  This pond is also a favorite for local homeless people to hang out and pee and poop.

“As we walked past ‘Your operation’ to spread this toxicity into the sand – and yes, that is exactly what you are doing – we were all smitten with spray from Polio Pond. The stench was horrific. We had to bathe our dogs, and all four adults had to shower. We all stank.”

There were some adjustments on the site by the construction crew, and it would seem by January 2026, nearly three years after the dedication, and then the collapse, and then the collapse again, it would be nearly complete.

The newly constructed bridge/bike path has a large drop off by the tunnel. .

Maybe not, Santa Monica Canyon resident Sharon Kilbride, a sixth generation of the Marquez family, and a stalwart of the Canyon, wrote Horvath’s office and said, “The new bike path project is near completion. A flaw is the exit of the Roosevelt Tunnel. The county has constructed a big drop-off by the tunnel, which will create a waterfall of mud into the tunnel.”

Kilbride spoke to the lead engineer, who promised to look into the problem.

“Another issue,” Kilbride told the engineer, “Is when people come through the tunnel they stop out directly onto the bike path.” She was told that there will be signs posted, but “if a kid runs out of the tunnel to the beach, they’re going to get hit by cyclists.”

So far, she’s still waiting for a response from Horvath’s office.