L.A. TOPS IN TRAFFIC HASSLES STUDY FINDS DRIVERS LOSING TIME, MONEY.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Los Angeles-area drivers slog through 136 hours of rush-hour traffic a year at cost of $2,510 per motorist - the worst congestion in the nation, a study reported Thursday.

That's nearly six days a year in bumper-to-bumper freeway snarl. Or roughly $12.55 a working day in lost fuel and time per driver.

``The bad news is it takes 90 percent more time to drive during rush hour than off-peak hours,'' said Tim Lomax, research engineer for the Texas Transportation Institute, author of the annual report.

``Los Angeles returns for the (worst) road cup one more time.''

The good news, according to the study, is that rush-hour commutes for Los Angeles County and Orange County drivers were 146 hours in 1990.

However, that trend contradicts U.S. Census figures released last month showing an average one-way commute in Los Angeles County of 29.4 minutes, compared with 26.5 minutes in 1990.

The Texas institute, part of Texas A&M University, used Federal Highway Administration and state highway department data to rank how motorists are slowed during peak rush hours compared with the rest of the day.

San Francisco-Oakland came in second, at 92 hours a year, followed by Chicago, Washington, Boston and Miami-Hialeah. San Jose placed ninth, with 74 hours, San Diego was 16th, San Bernardino-Riverside was 20th and Sacramento was 22nd.

Critics said the study failed to measure ``real world'' conditions and look at the cause of freeway snarl - sprawl, lack of affordable housing and meager choices in public transportation.

``We have to think bigger than transportation,'' said Jeff Corless, California director of the Surface Transportation Policy Project in San Francisco. ``We've been treating the symptom to the problem, not (its) root causes.''

Transportation industry advocates said more money needs to be spent improving California's freeways. While federal road-building funds might be cut next year, Proposition 42 will dedicate millions in gasoline sales taxes to highway projects.

``The one thing we can't do is throw up our hands,'' said Larry Fisher, executive director of Transportation California, funded by highway contractors. ``The system we built in the '60s is obsolete and wearing out.''

California Department of Transportation officials said Gov. Gray Davis has authorized $5.3 billion in congestion relief, including $1.4 billion to speed up traffic in Los Angeles.

``We're putting unprecedented resources toward improvements for drivers in the Los Angeles area,'' said Jeff Morales, director of Caltrans. ``The good news is we're seeing examples of how that is making a difference.''

A portion of the 101-405 freeway-interchange upgrade has been expedited, and a new car-pool lane has lopped off 18 minutes from commutes along the San Diego Freeway.

In addition, funding to add an HOV lane on Interstate 5 through the Valley, once denied by the California Transportation Commission, is being reconsidered by state and local transportation agencies, he said.

``The governor has taken an active role to improve the Los Angeles freeway system,'' said state Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, a proponent of local freeway improvement spending.

``To me, the (Texas) study is more than being stuck in traffic - it's about getting to work on time, it's about picking up your kids when you say you're going to be there and protecting the quality of our lives,'' Hertzberg said.

Hertzberg, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, and other local lawmakers have not received a reply from the governor regarding a June 5 request for $6.5 million to further expedite work on the 101-405 interchange construction.

Mayor James Hahn has worked hard to relieve the logjam with appeals to the governor for more transportation funds, plans to improve light rail throughout Los Angeles and 50 traffic cops in busy intersections, according to City Hall deputies.

``We're absolutely concerned ... and are working extremely hard to make the situation better,'' said Brian Williams, deputy mayor of transportation.

``The mayor doesn't like to get stuck in traffic any more than anyone else.''

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The Los Angeles - Orange County area leads the nation in freeway traffic snarls.

SOURCE: Texas Transportation Institute