FINALLY! BUSWAY'S A GO MTA APPROVES EAST-WEST ROUTE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Ending years of controversy, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority cleared the way Thursday for construction of a 14-mile east-west busway across the San Fernando Valley.

The MTA's final approval of the environmental report for the $325.9 million bus route was a bittersweet victory for the Valley, which was promised a subway or light rail nearly two decades ago.

Construction on the at-grade busway linking the North Hollywood Metro Red Line subway station to a transit center to be built in Warner Center is scheduled to begin next year, with service starting in 2005. The MTA also agreed to hire a project coordinator to determine where and what type of system should be installed to create a north-south project to ease traffic.

``The MTA's decision to finally move ahead is greatly appreciated and long overdue,'' said Richard Katz of the San Fernando Valley Transportation Strike Force. ``This has been a priority for the strike force and everyone who cares about seeing some traffic relief for the San Fernando Valley.''

MTA officials - including Mayor James Hahn, who six months ago opposed the busway - offered assurances to the Orthodox Jewish community in North Hollywood that effects of the busway on their neighborhood would be mitigated. Complaints have focused on disruption of the neighborhood and conflicts with Jewish religious practices during the Sabbath.

``I am satisfied we will do the best job we can to alleviate any problems, and the alternative to this was to do nothing,'' Hahn said. ``I don't think that would have been fair to the Valley either, which was promised a subway or a light-rail system.

``This isn't the optimum, but it's the best we can do now to get a good east-west transit corridor.''

At the same time as it approved the Valley busway, the MTA board gave the go-ahead to the final environmental report for a nearly $1 billion light-rail line from Union Station to East Los Angeles. United political leadership and strong community support were credited with the Eastside's winning a light-rail project.

The Valley busway would follow the right-of-way of the former Burbank Branch line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, running mostly along Chandler, Burbank and Victory boulevards.

Bart Reed, executive director of the Transit Coalition, which had fought the Chandler Boulevard route, said changes made by the MTA in its environmental study helped win over most opponents.

``This is a step in the right direction to bring transit relief to the south San Fernando Valley and be competitive with the 101 Freeway,'' Reed said. ``This will end up benefiting the community, although some are going to continue to be uncomfortable with it.''

One of those is Amnon Charash of the Concerned Citizens Transit Coalition.

``I don't feel it's going to be beneficial to the community along Chandler and I don't think there's going to be enough ridership,'' Charash said. ``The MTA is going to spend all this money for a white elephant and will just find out it is losing money while infringing on the rights of the community.''

But officials predicted that the dedicated busway in the Valley would reduce travel time and improve bus service.

``The busway will be an attractive alternative for commuters now taking local service buses, as well as for many people who have been making the cross-Valley commute by car,'' MTA board Chairman John Fasana said after the vote.

Planners expect the project to provide a two-lane busway, along with a bike path, walkway, trees, safety berm and soundwalls in some areas.

Last year, Gov. Gray Davis signed the $5 billion Traffic Congestion Relief Fund, which specifically listed the busway among funded projects.

Last July, after years of debate and controversy, the MTA board approved the east-west busway route. MTA officials worked with Jewish community leaders who were concerned about busway operations on the Sabbath and during religious holidays.

``We assured them that there will be crosswalks with signals that do not require people to press buttons or interfere with their religious beliefs,'' MTA spokesman Mark Littman said.

In addition to the busway, which will allow commuters to connect with service to downtown Los Angeles, the plan calls for a cross-Valley bikeway along the route. It also is expected to include a walkway, trees, safety berm and soundwalls in some areas.

Officials said the busway is designed to provide an alternative for commuters with high-speed buses and help avoid - and ease - congestion on other east-west routes.

MTA officials estimate that the average busway trip from Warner Center to North Hollywood would take 30-35 minutes - including stops - compared with 55 minutes now needed by those taking buses.

``Taking the busway will save commuters time and money,'' Fasana said.

The busway will go through the communities of North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana and Woodland Hills.

It also is designed to provide service to Pierce College, the Sepulveda Basin and the Van Nuys Civic Center.

Thirteen bus stations are to be built at major cross streets along the 26-foot-wide busway, with other bus service to be coordinated along the route. MTA officials said they might mandate that the buses use clean fuel technology such as compressed natural gas.

The Eastside light-rail project continued to draw objections Thursday from the Bus Riders Union, which has lobbied and filed suit for improvements in bus service.

The group said it will continue to fight the rail line and try to force the MTA to buy more buses instead.

``We are working to get support from legislators to try to get the federal government to cut $500 million from this project,'' said Deborah Orosz of the Bus Riders Union. ``If the MTA doesn't get the federal money for this project, then they won't be able to afford to build it.''

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(East-west Busway)