BERNSON SHELVES TRANSIT PLAN; COUNCILMAN POSTPONES VOTE 30 DAYS OVER INTRA-VALLEY METROLINK SHUTTLE.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Facing stiff opposition from other San Fernando Valley council members, Councilman Hal Bernson delayed a vote Wednesday on his plan to run Metrolink commuter trains between North Hollywood and Woodland Hills.

Bernson removed the proposal from the agenda for 30 days after his colleagues warned him he wouldn't get the votes for passage. His colleagues feared that the council's endorsement of the study would sabotage the city's effort to get the MTA to build an east-west subway into the Valley.

``The motion as it's drafted would have sent a mixed message,'' said Councilman Mike Feuer.

He said the motion would have undermined the council's vote of four months ago asking the MTA to build a subway system along the Burbank-Chandler route. ``I would not have voted for it unless those components were changed.''

Councilwoman Laura Chick agreed.

``I told him (Bernson) it starts to give credibility to the charge that the Valley doesn't have its act together in term of solid and lasting support for a route and that's not true,'' Chick said. ``The Valley has been consistently supporting the Burbank-Chandler route.''

The council members noted that many residents are opposed to the idea of a loud, heavy-rail system in their neighborhoods.

``Heavy rail is not appropriate to go right through the middle of single-family homes and residential areas,'' said Chick.

Bernson, a member of the board of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which runs the Metrolink system, refused Wednesday to discuss his tabling of the proposal.

Sources say Bernson believes his motion may face a different climate in 30 days. They say Bernson is a leading contender for an appointment to the MTA board, for which he currently is an alternate.

If Bernson is appointed by Mayor Richard Riordan to the MTA board, he could call for the study of Valley rail alternatives directly, without having to get council approval.

As a member of the board running Metrolink, Bernson already has submitted a motion asking that agency to do the study of alternatives, but Metrolink officials say they cannot go ahead unless the study is initiated by the MTA.

However, in recent weeks he has said Metrolink can install a system more quickly and at far less cost than the $300 million a mile subway system, which is still at least 10 years from beginning construction west of North Hollywood.

Woodland Hills homeowner activist Steve Witkin also attended the council meeting to oppose Bernson's proposal, saying using Metrolink trains would be too expensive and would cause too much disruption to neighborhoods along the route.

``The use of a heavy-duty train along the . . . Burbank route is ludicrous,'' Witkin said.

Witkin said the Metrolink system also would cost too much for riders.

Because of concerns about heavy trains disrupting neighborhoods along the Burbank-Chandler right-of-way, Bernson's motion also would have had the MTA study other routes and consider light rail as well as Metrolink trains.

In addition, Bernson's motion asked that the MTA look at alternatives such as deep trenches and sound walls, to reduce the noise and other impacts on neighborhoods along the route.