FUNDS ALLOTTED FOR AREA ROADS; $102 MILLION EARMARKED FOR NORTH L.A. COUNTY.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

North Los Angeles County scored more than $102 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for projects ranging from the installation of devices to cut down on debris in storm drains to freeway car-pool lanes.

There is a possibility that the project list will be reshaped, however, if the MTA loses a legal struggle over how many buses the agency needs to buy. The Bus Riders Union in Los Angeles and other civil rights advocates are pushing the MTA to buy 481 new buses over what the agency already plans to purchase.

MTA said buying the additional buses would cost the agency $816 million over five years.

``It's premature to consider what will be done away with,'' said Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts, an MTA member. ``We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.''

The biggest item on the list of approved projects for north Los Angeles County is a $62.8 million allocation for the construction of two car-pool lanes along the Antelope Valley Freeway between the Golden State Freeway and San Fernando Road. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority previously approved $1.88 million for the design work for the project.

The MTA approved $1.9 million for a $4 million project to widen and rehabilitate bridges on Sierra Highway about a half-mile south of the intersection with Soledad Canyon Road. Sierra Highway serves as the alternate route into the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys for Antelope Valley motorists.

Santa Clarita will receive $10.4 million to reconstruct the Golden State Freeway-Magic Mountain Parkway interchange. The project will include the construction of a southbound auxiliary lane to the Golden State Freeway off-ramp and the widening of Magic Mountain Parkway interchange from six to eight lanes. The total project cost is $29.7 million.

Santa Clarita also secured $7.5 million for improvements to the Golden State Freeway-Santa Paula Freeway interchange.

The MTA also approved $1.2 million for the installation of fiber-optic cable to support traffic signal timing along Valencia Boulevard, Magic Mountain Parkway and San Fernando Road; and $702,000 for signal improvements along McBean Parkway, Wiley Canyon, San Fernando Road and Decoro Drive.

Santa Clarita will also receive $138,000 for installing devices to keep debris out of storm drains; $219,000 for a bicycle path in Canyon Country; and $442,000 for median landscaping.

Metrolink will receive $1.4 million for track improvements in the Newhall area.

Palmdale will receive $2.5 million for an intermodal transit center, which Palmdale officials envision serving everything from high-speed trains to buses to bicycles. The funding will go toward a $3.5 million first phase, which involves the construction of a Metrolink train platform, a bus stop and a park-and-ride lot.

Palmdale will also receive $8.5 million for widening a two-mile portion of Avenue S from four lanes to six lanes. The project is part of an effort to widen and improve the Avenue S corridor between the Antelope Valley Freeway and Pearblossom Highway.

Palmdale will receive $1.2 million for a $3.86 million project to restripe a 3.3-mile stretch of Pearblossom Highway.

Palmdale also will receive $181,000 for a $221,000 project to build a one-mile bicycle path on Avenue S.

Lancaster will receive $821,000 for its $7.7 million project to improve the Avenue H/Antelope Valley Freeway interchange. Lancaster plans to widen the overpass and make improvements along Avenue H from 20th to 25th streets west.

The project is intended to help serve the Fox Field Corridor, an area earmarked for commercial and industrial development. The area will also serve as the new home of the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

Lancaster also will receive $631,000 for a $950,000 project to add 7.6 miles of new sidewalks along 12 major streets.

Palmdale, Lancaster and Los Angeles County will receive $1.9 million for a joint project to install fiber-optic cable and conduits for better traffic-signal control. The project also includes installing changeable road signs that would provide road and weather information.