CITY TO STUDY VALLEY TRANSIT ZONE.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Saying the MTA isn't providing a bus system that meets the San Fernando Valley's needs, the Los Angeles City Council agreed Tuesday to study creating a special transportation district to serve the Valley.

The council directed the city Department of Transportation to report back in 30 days on the process, as well as the pros and cons, of establishing a Valley ``transportation zone.''

If the council decides in 30 days to ask the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to establish the zone, the MTA could consider approving the request. If approved, the $85 million currently allocated annually by the MTA for bus services, shuttles and DASH lines in the Valley would be controlled more by Valley residents.

The MTA could contract out the bus service, possibly to the city DOT, with a governing board of Valley representatives taking over decision-making on the bus system from the MTA.

``It basically would allow the area to design its own bus system,'' said Councilman Richard Alarcon, author of the motion.

Valley-based council members said they are confident a Valley-run bus system would be better than what the MTA presently provides.

``We're looking at a potential of improving Valley service,'' said Councilman Hal Bernson. ``Frankly, MTA is not operating efficiently. Certain lines where there is a large number of riders do not have adequate buses in service.''

Bernson said other buses are running nearly empty.

Councilman Nate Holden voted against the study, saying he is concerned that creating a Valley transportation zone would revive problems experienced 30 years ago when bus riders often had to transfer between numerous transit zones to get from one part of the city to another.

Holden also questioned whether the move is part of an effort by the Valley to secede from Los Angeles.