BUSWAY FUNDING AT RISK EXTRA VALLEY ROUTES HINGE ON STATE BUDGET.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

With Sacramento's budget ax poised to fall on transportation dollars, the MTA's proposed north-south busways through the San Fernando Valley could become early victims of the funding shortfall.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority staffers still are working on the $100 million project, envisioning up to three north-south routes down main Valley thoroughfares and linking with the East-West Busway, which has secure funding.

Buses would have signal priorities or even their own lanes in some places to maneuver faster through crowded traffic. But one MTA official doubts the north-south project will survive the budget cuts.

``I think those are probably history now because of the state budget cuts,'' said MTA chairman Hal Bernson, the West Valley councilman. ``I hope it's not dead, but it's going to at least be delayed. I'm worried about it.''

Gov. Gray Davis has proposed slashing $1.8 billion in transportation dollars over this year and next - a $500 million cut to Los Angeles County's MTA - to handle the state budget crisis.

The governor's plans are slated to go before the Legislature this month as Sacramento seeks to close a state budget shortfall estimated at $35 billion.

MTA Chief Executive Officer Roger Snoble has said his agency's top priorities will be two projects: the Valley's East-West Busway, a long- planned project that is nearly ready to break ground in coming months, and the Eastside's new light-rail system.

Still, MTA personnel continue working on the north-south busway project, hoping to present it to the board in coming months.

``Absolutely we're moving forward,'' said MTA spokesman Marc Littman. ``Staff's still proceeding. ... We haven't pulled the plug on any project at this point.''

In December, the MTA unveiled five top choices for possible north-south routes, gathering community input in a series of public meetings.

Lines are being considered along the old Canoga Avenue rail tracks that run between Warner Center and the the Chatsworth Metrolink station, as well as along Reseda, Sepulveda, Van Nuys and Lankershim boulevards.

When the project initially won state funding, through support from state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, it was stipulated that the route connect with Ventura Boulevard's Metro Rapid bus line and the new East-West Busway being constructed next year.

The East Valley's crowded bus routes along Van Nuys and Lankershim boulevards were initially considered top possibilities for the route, but the MTA had since said it could perhaps build up to three lines if the state allotment could be supplemented with local funds.

Littman said although the state budget situation remains in flux, the staff continues to revise the busway studies and will hold another round of community meetings before taking the project to the board in March.

Meanwhile, a Valley traffic advocate's Web site, www.traffic-insider.org, shows Van Nuys Boulevard leading the top five choices in an online poll.

The Van Nuys route - with 16,000 riders making it the second-busiest in the Valley behind Ventura Boulevard - had gathered 67 percent of the votes from a handful of respondents as of a few days ago.

``We tend to be right on,'' said Webmaster Kymberleigh Richards, who is also vice president of Southern California Transit Advocates. ``We've done things before - we do tend to mirror the way things go.''

Past online polls have tallied opinions on the Bus Riders Union's chances for getting more buses from the MTA to relieve overcrowding and which street should get the Valley's next Metro Rapid Bus line.

In the latter poll, Van Nuys Boulevard was the winner and the route ultimately chosen by the MTA for the new rapid line - the red buses that make fewer stops - which is slated to open in the summer.

Richards said the polls generally tally up to 100 votes. This one has been up just a few weeks and only has a handful of respondents so far.

``MTA has always been rather receptive of getting my results ... It's more data for them,'' Richards said. ``We're going to try and gather some data. We're going to give them the data and hope it helps them.''

As for the Webmaster's own choice for the new busway? ``I'm leaning toward Van Nuys Boulevard because of ridership. ... Lankershim is obviously second because of the connection with the Red Line (subway).''