L.A. 1986 : GETTING AROUND

RTD--Random drug testing was instituted after a rash of crashes, including two in which drivers were under the influence of drugs. Increased complaints about service, high absentee rates by drivers, reports of drivers using invalid or improper licenses as well as questions about hiring practices and management expense accounts spurred calls for state and county investigations. In addition, the district attorney’s office was delving into reports that hundreds of thousands of dollars may have been paid out in a fraud scheme involving phony RTD insurance claims.

Metro Rail--After a roller-coaster ride of bureaucratic ups and downs, the long-planned Metro Rail subway project gained the necessary $225 million in federal funds for construction of the first 4.4-mile section to begin. Sections of several downtown streets were transformed from two-way to one-way routes to relieve expected congestion.

Gridlock of the Year--A 13-vehicle accident slowed traffic to a crawl for 7 1/2 hours in the Sepulveda Pass section of the San Diego Freeway.