SHUTTLE BUS PROPOSAL RUNS INTO FUNDS DEBATE.

Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer

The city of Glendale is planning on expanding its local shuttle bus service, but there's some disagreement about how to pay for three new routes.

Initially fares were going to be raised from 25 cents to 50 cents, but now the city's traffic division has recommended against the price increase. Instead staffers have proposed using a $4.3 million capital improvement fund as backup in case funds are needed for the expanded Glendale Beeline bus program.

That money came from sales tax revenues and had been set aside as a potential city contribution to a light rail line connecting Glendale to downtown Los Angeles.

But Glendale Mayor Ginger Bremberg said she would favor a gradual fare hike rather than raiding money set aside for long-term capital improvements.

``I have a strong position against using capital funds for operating expenses,'' Bremberg said.

A big fan of the Beeline bus system, Bremberg said she would like to see more routes added. But she said if the city cannot afford adding routes the system should not be expanded yet.

Jano Baghdanian, the city's traffic and transportation administrator, said it's unlikely the light rail line will be built any time soon, and the money should be used to bolster the Beeline.

``There is not a light rail line project out there that we know could happen in Glendale,'' Baghdanian said. ``Right now that money is just sitting there.''

The city had been hoping to work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on a light rail project for Glendale, but the project has been put on hold indefinitely as the MTA reorganizes its priorities.

The decision about how the new routes will be funded will be considered by the city's Traffic and Transportation Commission on May 24. The issue will be looked at by the Glendale City Council in June.

Baghdanian said the city plans to add three new routes within the next five years, doubling the number of routes now available.

The Beeline is a fleet of 25 buses, each of which hold 30 passengers. They are smaller than Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses which hold 40 passengers.

According to city surveys of its riders, 74 percent of Beeline riders do not have cars, and their median annual income is $20,000.

The city hopes to add a new route along Pacific Avenue in 2000, a route in northwest Glendale in 2001 and a route along Colorado Avenue in 2002.

The city also wants to convert MTA bus route 177, which runs from the Glendale Galleria to La Canada Flintridge and Montrose, into a Glendale Beeline route.