'Experiment' takes over new Valley transit zone. (Up Front).

FOR several years, Valley community and business leaders, angry over what they deemed an inefficient and archaic transit system, fought to form a separate Valley Transit Zone. Decisions about bus upgrades, scheduling, route changes and quality of service would have fallen into the hands of a locally constituted board, giving the Valley autonomy over the system and its future.

What proponents of a separate transit zone got instead was David Armijo, tapped by the Metropolitan Transit Authority earlier this year to manage the first of five planned community-based transit sectors.

Armijo officially took over July 1 as manager of the Metro San Fernando Valley sector based in Chatsworth. He is, by all accounts, an MTA "experiment," charged with the task of assessing the crucial problems with the Valley's bus system, including bus shortages, overcrowding and scheduling inefficiencies -- all against the backdrop of a legally mandated order that the MTA improve bus service or face legal consequences.

Armijo previously served as the director of operations for the Orange County Transportation Authority and in similar capacities at transit systems in Santa Fe, N.M. and Texas. He spoke to reporter Jacqueline Fox recently about his new post in the Valley and his strategy for improving bus service for its roughly 53 million passengers.

Question: What is the status of the planned East-West Valley Busway?

Answer: We are still in the design phase of that project, but the goal is to have it up and running by 2005 and I believe they are on track for reaching that goal. Right now all of the variables are being worked out.

Q: How many buses and lines run in the Valley?

A: There are about 500 buses and 23 lines. What we've done so far is to assess ridership and overcrowding. In June, we made some changes by reorganizing some bus lines to meet the needs of the ridership. For example, school trippers: We've changed lines to accommodate more riders in areas where we now have year-round schools, and pulled buses from areas where the demand is not that high.

Q: The obvious remedy is more buses and better quality buses. How many new buses is the Valley supposed to get under the recently ordered consent decree?

A: We are aiming for 30 more buses to add to the fleet, but possibly more.

Q: What's the holdup in getting new buses?

A: Supply. There used to be about eight or 10 different manufacturers, but half of them closed their doors through consolidations. So we are essentially working with about four major manufacturers now, two in Canada and two in Europe. We can rehabilitate older buses, but that costs money. To extend the life of a typical 40-foot bus that's about 12 years old can cost up to $50,000. A new one costs about $330,000.

Q: The MTA has been accused by some members of the public of not being forthright about compliance with the decree. What's your response?

A: We have not been sitting on the sidelines, believe me, and, having come from other agencies -- Orange County, Dallas, Santa Fe -- I can say that the MTA is doing an excellent job. What people don't quite understand is this isn't a standard way of doing business. We are being affected by a third party; in this case, a judge.

Q: Each of these new transit sectors is supposed to have a community council to oversee operations. When will the Valley's council be in place?

A: Right now they are developing the bylaws and trying to determine what type of governance the board will be. But, if we are going to be more responsive to the local community, I would need an advisory board of individuals from the Valley community -- local representatives, community organizers and business leaders. It really has to be a group of individuals that would form an advisory board to take on all aspects of the system, including the politics. An ad hoc committee for the board meets Aug. 7, so we may see things form as soon as September or October.

Q: What is your top goal as head of the Valley Transit Sector?

A: The main reason for my being here is to really focus on getting more local control for Valley residents. That includes working directly with the mechanics, the drivers, the employees of MTA who are based here, as well as my staff and the members of the community. And the goal is simply to improve service.

Q: You've spent time out on buses, getting to know routes, drivers and commuters. What are you hearing?

A: Most of what I'm hearing is that there simply isn't enough service for the number of riders, particularly on the weekends, or that the span of service is not long enough or not getting to certain parts of the region.

Q: You've taken on a tough position in a turbulent time. What's your strategy for keeping above the fray?

A: What I've tried to do so far is to get my staff to think and work beyond the politics. I've asked them to evaluate, work on ideas for improvements and talk to me or write down whatever ideas they come up with for modifications or anything we can do to offset the inefficiencies.