Eastward Extension of Light Rail to Be Studied

Los Angeles County officials have agreed to investigate the possibility of extending a proposed San Fernando Valley light-rail transit line eastward to Burbank and perhaps to Glendale.

The county Transportation Commission will work with Burbank officials to study the feasibility of a light-rail line that would run east from the planned North Hollywood Metro Rail station, Ray Richmond, executive director of the commission, said Saturday.

The line would connect at the station with the proposed westbound light-rail line across the San Fernando Valley to Chatsworth. The trolley-like cars would run on a 17-mile route alongside the Southern Pacific Railroad southern spur tracks, through the northern edge of the Sepulveda Basin, into Woodland Hills and north beside Canoga Avenue to Chatsworth.

Reducing Traffic Jams

Burbank officials proposed the eastward extension as a way to reduce future traffic jams near their city’s mile-square Media District, a commercial and office zone near several studios. They sought help from the Southern California Rapid Transit District in mapping potential light-rail routes.

Richmond said Burbank and Glendale officials will study several possible routes before asking the commission to modify a long-range transit master plan to include one or more eastward routes.

Because a Burbank light-rail route was not included on the Proposition A ballot measure approved by Los Angeles County voters in 1980, the two cities will have to use their direct share of the measure’s sales-tax revenue to finance the study, Richmond said. The two cities also may have to rely on their own money and contributions from the private sector to build such a light-rail link, he said.

Proposition A added a half-cent to the 6% state sales tax for mass transit purposes in Los Angeles County. The revenue now comes to about $300 million a year.

The westbound light-rail line across the Valley is one of three routes in the county under consideration for Proposition A funds. The Transportation Commission, which will decide lines to build, also is studying light-rail service proposals for the South Bay and East Los Angeles.

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda), chairman of the state Assembly Transportation Committee, urged Valley civic leaders three weeks ago to step up their support of the light-rail concept or risk losing the line to the South Bay or East Los Angeles.

Supporters of the cross-Valley line have estimated that the trolleys would reduce rush-hour traffic on the Ventura Freeway by about 5%.

The first light-rail route to be built is a 21-mile line linking downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach. Ground-breaking ceremonies were held Oct. 31 for that $685-million project, which is to be completed about 1990.