BUS TRANSIT PLANS TO BE DISCUSSED.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

The MTA will hold public hearings this month on more than a dozen bus route changes planned for this summer as the agency tries to improve service with new limited-stop lines along San Fernando Valley corridors.

The changes will also introduce the new Van Nuys Boulevard Metro Rapid route - the Valley's second route for the bright red buses that make fewer stops and have proven popular along Ventura Boulevard.

The North Hollywood Metro Station will serve as the primary transfer hub for limited-stop services.

``This is part of a whole series of changes in June,'' said Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Marc Littman, pointing to the opening of the Gold Line light rail system between downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena and the new Metro Rapid routes along Van Nuys and Florence Avenue in South Los Angeles.

But Valley transit advocates reviewing the proposed changes are offering some suggestions of their own.

The Transit Coalition's Bart Reed said bus and rail riders have been meeting to hammer out additional route changes they believe would enhance Valley service with fewer transfers.

``We're basically reshuffling,'' said Reed, a Sylmar resident.

The group hopes to ``provide some direct ways to get from Ventura Boulevard to the Northeast Valley, to minimize transfers, make some one- seat rides,'' said Reed, adding it plans to ``offer some efficiency proposals so we can create this without costing a lot of money.

The group will meet on Tuesday to further craft its presentation.

Changes are proposed on various routes in Los Angeles County as part of the MTA's twice-a year service schedule shake-up. Among the MTA's proposed changes for the Valley:

--New weekend service on Lines 90-91, offering hourly service between Sunland and Olive View Medical Center.

--Cancel a segment of Lines 92-93 along Brand Boulevard to reduce duplication with the Glendale Beeline. Cancel Line 410.

--Extend Line 94 to service Cascades Business Park in Sylmar during weekday rush hour.

--Restructure Line 234 to end at the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station and run a new shuttle to Mission College and potential destinations north of the college.

--Cancel a segment of Line 236 along Balboa Boulevard between Rinaldi Street and Midwood Drive.

--Establish Saturday service on Line 243 along DeSoto Avenue.

--Establish rush-hour, limited-stop service between the North Hollywood Station and the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station along Lankershim Boulevard-San Fernando Road.

--Cancel a segment of Line 418 along Roscoe Boulevard and the line's express segment on the 5 Freeway. Convert the remaining Roscoe Boulevard route to limited-stop service along Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the North Hollywood Station.

--Cancel Line 426 between North Hollywood and the Wilshire/Western Metro Red Line station.

--Replace Line 561 with the new Van Nuys Boulevard Metro Rapid route between Lake View Terrace and Westwood.

Littman said the agency welcomes suggestions like those expected to be presented by The Transit Coalition and encouraged participation in the upcoming hearing.

``We welcome those,'' he said. ``That's the purpose of the public hearings. ... Often we get very good feedback and we modify those proposals. We really want to hear from the public.''

IF YOU GO

--The Transit Coalition, a San Fernando Valley-based advocacy group, will hold a meeting to discuss recommended service changes at 11 a.m. Jan. 6 at Sylmar Chamber of Commerce, 13867 Foothill Blvd.

--MTA's Metro San Fernando Valley sector will hold a public hearing on proposed service changes at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Van Nuys State Building, 6150 Van Nuys Blvd.

--Written comments will be accepted through Jan. 18. Mail to: LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles 90012-2932. E-mail to: customerrelations(at)mta.net. Fax to [phone]. All correspondence should be addressed Attn.: FY2003 Service Changes.

--Information on the proposed route changes is available at www.mta.net/board/agendas/2002-12/rbm/agenda.htm.

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