BUSWAY SHUTDOWN CARRIES STEEP PRICE.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

Just as the Orange Line was starting to take shape across the San Fernando Valley, work shut down Tuesday afternoon and the contractors were told not to come back today.

Officials said the shutdown - under order of the state Court of Appeal - could cost taxpayers $70,000 a day.

Residents opposed to the busway through their neighborhoods won at least a temporary legal victory in their fight against the project, although the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to challenge the ruling and officials said they would ultimately prevail.

``This is just really unfortunate,'' said MTA Chief Executive Officer Roger Snoble. ``There's always a very small amount of people who hate progress.''

Monday's court order to stop work was hailed by residents who have opposed the $330 million busway project as a waste of money, but lambasted by San Fernando Valley leaders who see nothing but NIMBY action halting efforts to relieve gridlock.

MTA officials said shutting down work until next week's court hearing would cost some $800,000 and stall the project for months.

They said if they are ordered to shut down until a court-mandated new study is completed, it could cost up to $15 million for idle manpower and equipment.

Former Valley Assemblyman Richard Katz, who headed the San Fernando Valley Transportation Strike Force that helped secure funds for the busway project, called the residents' opposition ``classic NIMBY'' behavior.

``They'll end up studying the Valley out of any improvement,'' he said. ``At the end of the day, you have to make a decision to move forward.''

Residents opposing the busway won the California Court of Appeal order late Monday to temporarily halt busway construction. It came after the appellate court ruled last month that more study was needed on the project.

Residents said all they wanted is for the MTA to study putting in a network of red Rapid buses as an alternative to the costly busway - a study now being done by MTA.

``We truly believe more Rapid buses is a better alternative for transportation,'' said Valley Glen resident Diana Lipari, chairwoman of Citizens Organized for Smart Transit, the group that filed the lawsuit.

``If they do that and the busway wins, it wins,'' she said. If not, she added, ``It's never too late to stop spending taxpayers' money badly.''

Despite the court order to stop construction, crews continued working for a while Tuesday, paving the route with a load of asphalt that arrived in the morning and covering holes and trenches that could be a safety hazard, MTA officials said.

``I wasn't about to send asphalt to a dump,'' said the MTA's top construction official, Rick Thorpe.

Crews, however, were told not to come back today, when construction managers would be determining possible safety fixes that need to be done during the shutdown - construction that is allowed under a clarification issued by the court late Tuesday at the request of the MTA.

Among the safety concerns are 11 intersections across the Valley that remain torn up, as well as a retaining wall to support part of the San Diego Freeway.

``There's a risk out there,'' Thorpe said. ``We'll go through. ... There may be more.''

The busway project, approved in 2002, is the Valley's main public transit solution after decades of failed efforts to bring a train or subway across the east-west corridor that parallels the 101 Freeway.

The Orange Line, the first of its kind in Southern California, would put buses in their own lanes along a former rail right of way, with stations about every mile - taking riders between North Hollywood and Warner Center in about 40 minutes.

Businesses along the route have suffered during construction, but one business owner said Tuesday that it would be better to finish the project - or at least open the intersection near his delicatessen - than hold the project in limbo.

``I'm just (hopeful) they can get it over with as soon as possible so we can get back to normal,'' said Frank Mesriani, owner of Weilers Deli, which has remained open on Victory Boulevard despite having filed for bankruptcy protection because of lost business. ``When it's up and running, it'll be good for everybody.''

Next week, the court will take up whether the work should remain halted while the MTA conducts the Rapid bus study, started last month by MTA staff members, along with hired consultants, and expected to take up to six months to complete.

The court is also expected to deal next week with the MTA's petition for a rehearing on the court decision mandating the study. The MTA board also approved taking the case to the state Supreme Court.

Even if the Rapid bus alternative proves to be the better choice, the board is not bound to accept it and could simply move on with the busway, MTA officials said.

``The long-term future - I still see us getting the busway built,'' Snoble said.

Those who have watched one transportation project after another fail in the Valley, while traffic congestion increases, say it's time for the busway - now nearly 40 percent complete - to get built.

``I'm very disappointed in the court's decision to delay construction on the Orange Line at this time,'' said Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills. ``It's important that the impacts on individuals be mitigated as much as possible and transportation infrastructure projects move ahead for the betterment of our community.''

Longtime Valley transit advocate Bart Reed agreed waiting is costly.

``It's thievery (from) the taxpayers,'' said Reed, executive director of the nonprofit The Transit Coalition.

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Orange Line busway builders, including these in Van Nuys near Lake Balboa, left the job Tuesday under court order.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer