L.A. OFFICIALS REASSURE CITY COMMUTERS VILLARAIGOSA JOINS MASS-TRANSIT RIDERS.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro, Josh Kleinbaum and Rick Orlov Staff Writers

Los Angeles residents awoke Thursday to news of the horrifying terrorist attacks on rush-hour London - a sober reminder of how vulnerable public-transit systems remain in the world after 9-11.

Officials sprang into action while most of Los Angeles slept - opening city and county emergency operations centers, beefing up the police presence on Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses and trains, and putting the city on modified tactical alert.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in his third full business day on the new job, was awakened at 3:30 a.m. by a call from Police Chief William Bratton advising him of the London bombings. Villaraigosa joined morning commuters on the Red Line subway from Union Station to Hollywood and assured L.A.'s 1.4 million mass transit riders the system was secure.

But authorities said terrorists seem to be turning their attention from landmarks and military targets to easier disruption of routine metropolitan living, forcing leaders in cities like Los Angeles to rethink their approach to terrorism.

``The London attacks - it marks a change,'' Bratton said at a news conference. ``The early attacks were against symbols: the World Trade Center, the USS Cole. The most recent attacks were against people: subway riders, bus riders. We're taking a close look.''

The head of the MTA's security operation said experts have been trying to focus on bus and rail safety the way the airlines did after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

``What we've seen since the Madrid train bombing is that surface transportation is a very viable target, something all of the people in the transit industry have been saying for years,'' said Capt. Dan Finkelstein, who oversees the sheriff's Transit Services Bureau, which patrols the MTA and Metrolink systems.

``Anyplace where you have people congregating - whether that be a sporting event or a transit system - that's going to be an attractive target.''

Still, local law enforcement and transit officials said their preparation paid off in speedy action as the London tragedy unfolded.

The mayor was awakened at 3:30 a.m. and activated the city's Emergency Operations Center in City Hall. Security was stepped up at Los Angeles International Airport, as well as at Los Angeles Harbor and the Port of Long Beach.

By morning rush hour, several hundred law enforcement personnel and nearly 20 police dogs were patrolling the rail lines - one deputy on every Metrolink train from the suburbs and two on every MTA train in the urban areas.

MTA officials said they will keep additional police patrols on buses and trains through the weekend while monitoring the international situation.

Villaraigosa greeted morning commuters with the message that their trains were safe.

``I thought it was important that we demonstrate our confidence in our heightened level of security, and that all is well here in Los Angeles,'' the mayor said.

``Our public transportation system's safe.''

While Los Angeles officials repeatedly said there were no credible threats against the city, Sheriff Lee Baca said Los Angeles County still has to be prepared.

``Unfortunately, we live in a time when it's not a matter of if, but when, we are going to be attacked by terrorists,'' he said.

Analysts said it's time to consider even more precautions for wide-open transit systems like those in Los Angeles, where riders board on the honor system and are only occasionally required to show tickets to fare checkers.

``It's becoming increasingly evident from Madrid and now London, these soft transportation targets seem to be one of choice,'' said Terry O'Sullivan, a counter-terrorism specialist at the University of Southern California's Center for Homeland Security.

``(There's) no reason why everyone who gets on train shouldn't have to go through similar types of screening portals, depending on sensor technology and the like. We're moving in that direction. Now we need to move faster.''

But area rail operators have long said the cost and inconvenience of airport-style security screening make such measures unlikely.

``The logistics of doing something like that would be very, very difficult,'' said Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell.

More pressing, she said, is the need to close off more than 500 miles of track with fences and gates.

``The more we can limit access to the tracks, the more security we can offer our passengers.''

Finkelstein said he is open to ways to screen MTA passengers, but for now is spending a $4.5 million federal grant on video cameras, staff drills and additional police dogs.

He said the MTA also relies on its riders to be the ``eyes and ears'' of the system and to report any suspicious activity to drivers or police.

Officials reminded Angelenos that they should call the special telephone number of 1-877-ATHREAT to report any suspicious activities.

``Los Angeles lies 6,000 miles from London, and we've not received any intelligence to indicate that there are any threats to our region,'' Villaraigosa said. ``We're OK. But we all must remain vigilant and aware because we know all too well that the threat of terrorism remains a reality in our lives.''

Even as officials guarded against potential local attacks, they spoke about reaching out to victims of the attacks in London.

Villaraigosa and City Council President Alex Padilla signed a condolence book at the British Consulate in Los Angeles, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger extended the sympathy of all Californians to the people of London.

Leaders of the Burbank-based charity Islamic Relief condemned the deadly attacks.

``A crime of this nature is a crime against all of humanity. In order for good to prevail we must continue to be united,'' said Ahmad El Bendary, executive director of Islamic Relief, an international development organization, with locations in 30 countries.

Morning commuters, clearly saddened by the events in London, said they nevertheless plan to continue their trips by train.

``It's the world we live in,'' said Fred Willis, who rode Metrolink from Diamond Bar to Union Station before boarding the subway to downtown. ``If you don't take it, in essence they've won.''

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa assures Mychelle Baber that the L.A. transit system is safe as they ride a subway Thursday.

Nick Ut/Associated Press

(2) Sheriff's deputies scan an open doorway of a subway car train Thursday at Hollywood. The L.A. mayor was among passengers.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(3) Area residents are signing a condolence book in the British Consulate at 11766 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. C.J. Wyatt signs while Theresa Walters watches.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer