Push on for Cross-Valley Light Rail

San Fernando Valley business and political leaders who banded together two months ago to successfully push for three Ventura Freeway widening projects apparently will turn their attention next to construction of a cross-Valley light-rail line.

Development of a proposed 17-mile trolleylike link between North Hollywood and Chatsworth may be just as valuable as extra lanes in relieving Ventura Freeway congestion, leaders of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce said Thursday.

The Valley is one of three areas in Los Angeles County being considered for construction of a sales tax-financed light-rail system. The county Transportation Commission also is considering rail service in the South Bay and East Los Angeles.

County transportation officials have been warning for months that the Valley is likely to lose out on light rail unless there is public support.

Previous Political Pressure

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) told a breakfast meeting of Woodland Hills business leaders Thursday that the Valley’s summertime campaign for $10.4 million to fund widening of Ventura Freeway is proof that the area is capable of mounting sustained political pressure. Woodland Hills chamber officials were principals in the Ventura Freeway Improvement Coalition, which helped lobby this summer for the freeway projects.

At the urging of Valley leaders, the state Transportation Commission voted Sept. 26 to keep Ventura Freeway projects off a “hit list” drawn up because of a shortfall in federal highway funding. The freeway widening had been one of dozens of projects statewide that was considered for postponement to save the state $650 million.

“If we in the Valley don’t advocate for our part, we’re going to get left out” of the light-rail race, Katz said. “We’re going to wind up watching a light-rail system being built somewhere and asking how come it’s not coming into the Valley.”

5% Cut in Freeway Traffic

The Valley light-rail system has been proposed for the Southern Pacific Railroad right of way that crosses the southern half of the Valley. Katz said the rail line could siphon off 5% of the daily commuter traffic from the nearby Ventura Freeway, now said to be the world’s busiest highway.

“Even if the light rail doesn’t go directly through your community and you don’t ride it, you’d benefit,” Katz said. “If you were among the remaining 95% on the Ventura Freeway, you’d be doing 45 m.p.h. where it used to be 3 1/2 m.p.h.”

But Katz, who is chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, acknowledged that unified support for light rail will not come automatically in the Valley.

“We have an unfortunate habit sometimes in the Valley of saying, ‘You got yours and I didn’t get mine, so goodby,’ ” he said. “We need to view this as Valleywide, not just for Warner Center or Canoga Park or Van Nuys.”

‘Have Our Voice Heard’

Roger Stanard, chamber president and head of the Ventura Freeway Improvement Coalition, said he expects the Valley will “organize and have our voice heard” on the rail issue.

After the breakfast session, Stanard went to Long Beach to attend ground-breaking ceremonies for a Long Beach-to-Los Angeles light-rail line that is viewed by county officials as the first leg of what could become a 150-mile system.

“Light rail is not a pie-in-the-sky thing,” Stanard said. “It’s happening.”

Ron Palmer, another member of the coalition, said other groups lining up behind a Valley light-rail system include Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. and United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley.