TREED OFF CLEARING FOR METRO BUS ROUTE DRAWS OUTCRY.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

VALLEY VILLAGE - The first of some 2,000 trees that will be bulldozed along the new San Fernando Valley Metro Rapidway route have started coming down, leaving residents fuming over the scope of the loss.

Neighbors were shocked this week when decades-old palm trees and newer shade trees were razed. They want Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials to halt the tree project and hold a public meeting over the issue.

``We're just heartbroken,'' said Valley Village Homeowners Association President Lori Dinkin, who has been fielding calls from irate residents.

``People are very upset. We feel strongly about trees,'' she said. ``The MTA has to know they can't run roughshod over us. That's what they're doing. They wouldn't do this kind of stuff in Beverly Hills, I can assure you that.''

As construction of the $330 million busway progresses west along the old rail line on Chandler Boulevard, other trees are also scheduled to fall - although MTA will be replanting them with 5,000 native oaks and other varieties.

MTA Construction Manager Mark Van Gessel says half of the 4,000 trees growing in the median along the 13-mile route between North Hollywood and Warner Center will have to go.

``We're trying to save as many trees as we can. There will be trees that have to be removed,'' Van Gessel said.

He conceded the MTA should have done a better job of getting the word out about the scope of the work and that they certainly would meet again with Valley Village residents.

Officials plan to start visiting the communities along the route next month to update them on the project and schedule.

``We thought we communicated that message. We obviously didn't,'' Van Gessel said. ``Now we'll try and correct that.''

Construction began earlier this year on Rapidway, converting the former rail line into a designated lane for the busway, which MTA dubs a train on rubber wheels. It is scheduled to open in two years.

Most of the trees will be bulldozed to make way for new left-turn lanes to help with traffic flow. Others are in the way of new train-style platforms at some bus stops, neighborhood sound walls, the bicycle path and in some areas where the boulevard needs to be realigned.

Between Lankershim Boulevard and Ethel Avenue, 55 trees were removed over the past week.

``There was no way to design around the trees,'' said Van Gessel. ``It was a huge amount of trees we have on our project. We're saving over 50 percent.''

Dinkin said residents understand there will be some compromises made as the line is built but that MTA should have told the community the extent of the tree removal.

``We get very upset when we haven't been informed,'' she said. ``All you have to do is call a public meeting.''

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, map

Photo:

A Valley pedestrian on Chandler Boulevard at Coldwater Canyon passes mounds of mulch from uprooted trees Friday.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Map:

LOSS OF TREES