Wealthy Bel Air Resident Battles Metro Over Proposed Rail Tunnel

Fred Rosen, founder of Ticketmaster, is suing to stop a $24.2 billion transit project under his neighborhood.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:51pm

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A serene, painterly depiction of a lone Metro rail tunnel entrance nestled in the hills of Bel Air, capturing the tension between progress and preservation.A wealthy Bel Air resident's legal battle threatens to derail a crucial transportation project for Los Angeles.Los Angeles Today

Fred Rosen, a wealthy Bel Air resident and founder of Ticketmaster, is leading a legal battle to stop a proposed $24.2 billion Metro rail project that would build a tunnel under his neighborhood. Rosen argues the project will be over budget, behind schedule, and obsolete by the time it's completed in 2050. He has spent nearly $1 million on lawsuits against the plan and accuses Metro officials of incompetence and not properly consulting with Bel Air residents.

Why it matters

The proposed rail line through the Sepulveda Pass is seen as a crucial transportation solution for Los Angeles, providing an 18-minute trip from the San Fernando Valley to the Westside. However, Rosen's legal challenges could significantly delay or derail the project, frustrating many residents who have long awaited a solution to the area's notorious traffic congestion.

The details

Metro has approved a heavy rail plan that would build a single-bore tunnel under the Bel Air neighborhood. Rosen argues the project will cost $40 billion, not the $24.2 billion estimate, and won't be completed until 2050, by which time he believes the technology will be obsolete. He has filed multiple lawsuits through the nonprofit Keep Bel Air Beautiful, claiming Metro officials did not properly consult with Bel Air residents. Rosen has also publicly feuded with LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, a Metro board member overseeing the project.

  • Metro approved the preferred rail route in 2026.
  • Rosen has spent nearly $1 million on lawsuits against the project since 2026.
  • Rosen predicts the project won't be completed until 2050.

The players

Fred Rosen

A wealthy Bel Air resident and the founder of Ticketmaster, who is leading a legal battle to stop the proposed Metro rail project under his neighborhood.

Lindsey Horvath

A Los Angeles County Supervisor and member of the Metro Board of Directors, overseeing the rail project that Rosen is opposing.

Keep Bel Air Beautiful

A nonprofit organization that Rosen is using to file lawsuits against the Metro rail project.

Ray Sosa

A Metro Chief Planning Officer who Rosen claims did not properly consult with Bel Air residents about the project.

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What they’re saying

“If this was your money would you spend it like this? In 25 years Metro hasn't finished one project on time, one project on budget, and has the most cost per mile of any metro in the US.”

— Fred Rosen, Bel Air Resident

“What we're dealing with is one set of idiots versus another set of incompetence versus another set of morons. They don't even understand the communities they are dealing with.”

— Fred Rosen, Bel Air Resident

What’s next

Rosen says he can keep the project tied up in court for another 5 years, potentially delaying or derailing the Metro rail plan.

The takeaway

This battle over the proposed Metro rail project highlights the tensions between the needs of the broader Los Angeles community and the concerns of wealthy residents in neighborhoods like Bel Air. It also raises questions about the competence and transparency of Metro's planning process.