RIDERS TO SPEAK OUT ON BUS ROUTE PLANS.

Byline: Sandy Yang Staff Writer

Proposed changes in Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus service in the San Fernando Valley will take center stage Saturday at a public hearing.

The changes, which would start in mid-2000 with the opening of the Metro Red Line subway in the Valley, could worsen transit service, critics say.

``We oppose the cuts on the freeway buses from the Valley to downtown,'' said Deborah Orosz, an organizer for the Bus Riders Union, an advocacy group representing MTA passengers. ``We know they're making these bus cuts to inflate the number of riders on (the subway) to justify the billions spent.''

The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in the third-floor board room of MTA's downtown headquarters building at 1 Gateway Plaza, near Union Station.

With subway service scheduled to begin in the Valley in May, the transit agency plans major changes in several bus lines, including eliminating portions of some bus lines that duplicate the subway's route. The MTA also plans a number of minor changes in other bus schedules.

The public's comments Saturday will help the MTA evaluate the proposals before the agency makes a final decision, said MTA spokesman Ed Scannell.

``We had similar proposals made for some lines a year ago, prior to Hollywood expansion, and some of those were made and some were not because of public concerns,'' Scannell said.

``That's always been the case, and this is a very important part of the process,'' he said.

The major changes will force bus riders to take the subway downtown, increasing commute time as much as 20 or 30 minutes, Orosz said.

Although the Metro Red Line subway doesn't have to contend with traffic, Orosz said riders can expect multiple transfers, frequent waiting and increased walking time to and from stops.

``There's no evidence that the Metro is better. We're proposing the MTA should wait six months (after the station is open) and give riders a choice between bus or rail,'' she said.

``This is a demonstration of who the MTA is building transportation for. Instead of building them to tailor to their own needs, they should be tailoring to people's needs.''

Proposed major changes include cancellation of Line 427, an express line between West Hills and the central business district, and cancellation of the express segment of each of the following lines:

Line 522, which runs between Northridge and the central business district.

Lines 424 and 424, which run from Ventura Boulevard to the central business district.

Line 418 which runs from Roscoe Boulevard to the central business district.

Instead of continuing express bus service downtown, most of those lines will deliver passengers to the North Hollywood or Universal City stations for transfer to the subway.

Several other Valley buses will be rerouted to include stops at the North Hollywood or Universal City subway stations.

Persons unable to attend the public hearing may submit written comments postmarked by Saturday. Written testimony should be addressed to LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932.