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Bike Walk Paths

Eyes on the Street: San Fernando Road Bike Path Nearly Complete

2:49 PM PST on March 1, 2022

Metrolink is closed for four days. Photo by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.

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This article supported by Los Angeles Bicycle Attorney as part of a general sponsorship package. All opinions in the article are that of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of LABA. Click on the ad for more information.

Streetsblog got a chance to check out the progress on the city of L.A.'s under-construction San Fernando Road bike path. The project, officially the San Fernando Phase III Bike Path, appears mostly complete, but still has a few gaps where construction is proceeding.

LA City Transportation Department (LADOT) spokesperson Colin Sweeney notes that the department expects the new path to be completed by the end of 2022, though the contractor has through next February to finish.

The bike path is a rail-with-trail project, paralleling Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line railroad tracks, which run just north of San Fernando Road. Portions of that right-of-way already have a completed bike path through the L.A. City neighborhoods of Pacoima and Sylmar, as well as the city of San Fernando. The existing path runs 5.9 miles along San Fernando Road from Roxford Street to Branford Street.
The existing San Fernando Road bike path in Sun Valley
Existing San Fernando Road bike path in Sun Valley
The existing San Fernando Road bike path in Sun Valley
SanFernandoRoadpathmap
Map of existing and future San Fernando Road bike path

The new phase continues 4.2 miles southeast from Branford all the way to the border between L.A. and Burbank - at the Burbank Airport North Metrolink Station. When complete, the path will extend a total of ten miles!

The new facility cost an estimated $31 million, according to a 2019 LADOT project fact sheet. Funding came from a California Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant, a U.S. Congestion Management Air Quality (CMAQ) grant, and other city funds.

The majority of the path already has new asphalt, lighting, fencing, landscaping, and some bicycle-activated signals in place. The project also includes new crosswalks, new ADA-accessible ramps, and major traffic/railroad signal modification at twelve intersections.

Even the not-quite-finished path is already in use by cyclists, runners, and pedestrians.

Cyclist using the new San Fernando Road path
Cyclist using the new San Fernando Road path
Cyclist using the new San Fernando Road path
San Fernando Road bike path's new landscaping
San Fernando Road bike path's new landscaping
San Fernando Road bike path's new landscaping
The new path includes some bicycle traffic signals; this one is located at Sunland Boulevard.
The new path includes some bicycle traffic signals; this one is located at Sunland Boulevard.
The new path includes some bicycle traffic signals; this one is located at Sunland Boulevard.
The new San Fernando Road bike path running along Burbank Airport
The new San Fernando Road bike path running along Burbank Airport (on the right)
The new San Fernando Road bike path running along Burbank Airport

The new bike bridge over the Tujunga Wash is open.

New San Fernando Road bike bridge over the Tujunga Wash
New San Fernando Road bike bridge over the Tujunga Wash
New San Fernando Road bike bridge over the Tujunga Wash

There are a few gaps remaining - including both sides of Tuxford Street (in Sun Valley) and near the Burbank border.

The pavement ends just southeast of
The pavement ends just southeast of Lankershim Boulevard. As of last weekend, there is a gap between Lankershim and Penrose Street.
The pavement ends just southeast of
Wooden framing shows where more bike path is coming soon
Near Lankershim, wooden framing shows where more bike path is coming soon
Wooden framing shows where more bike path is coming soon

Thanks to LADOT, Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Nury Martinez for getting this project built. And thanks to CiclaValley for piquing SBLA's interest by tweeting out construction photos late last year.

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