South Bay : Transit Overseer Rejected

Fearing they would create another bureaucrat, officials from the 15 South Bay cities have decided not to hire a full-time coordinator who would have worked with all the cities on regional transportation issues.

Rancho Palos Verdes Councilwoman Jacki Bacharach, who also serves on the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, argued unsuccessfully that a full-time person is needed to coordinate such proposals as a computerized central phone service for all area transit services, a study of South Bay residents’ driving habits and a commuter bus service to major South Bay employment centers.

Eight cities had each agreed to provide $3,000 of their Proposition A transit tax money to pay for the coordinator, but some city officials changed their position last week at a meeting of the South Bay Corridor Steering Committee, a joint cities panel that makes transportation recommendations.

“I like the idea, but we’re giving birth to another bureaucrat,” said Rolling Hills Councilwoman Gordana Swanson, who had supported her city’s contribution.

Lomita Councilman Harold (Hal) Croyts argued that the $3,000 contributions would be better used if each city gave it to their staffs to work with one another on the projects.

Bacharach, who initiated the drive because of recently proposed cuts by the Southern California Rapid Transit District in several lines into the El Segundo employment center and the discontinuance last week of an employee commuter bus service by Hughes Aircraft Co., withdrew her proposal for a full-time staff person. She said the committee will meet in two months to see if city staff members can begin addressing some of the problems on their own.