METRO RAIL VS. LGHT RAIL

VALLEY ALTERNATIVES

No light rail. Metro Rail from North Hollywood to Universal City only.

Light rail from West Valley to North Hollywood only.

Light rail from West Valley to Universal City only.

Light rail from West Valley to link up with Metro Rail in North Hollywood.

Light rail from West Valley to link up with Metro Rail in Universal City.

DISTANCE

Light Rail: 15 miles from West Valley to North Hollywood. Possible two-mile extension from North Hollywood to Universal City.

Metro Rail: Two miles for Valley portion between North Hollywood and Universal City. It then continues south through Santa Monica Mountains to Hollywood, linking up with line to downtown.

C O S T S

Light Rail: $332 million for main 15-mile route. $80 million for the possible two-mile extension from North Hollywood to Universal City. Final estimate will depend on choice of route and engineering features, such as number of rail overpasses needed to clear major intersections. Cost per mile for the 15-mile route would be about $25 million. The extension would cost $40 million per mile because of the expense of elevating some sections.

Metro Rail: Total downtown-Valley project is estimated at $3.3 billion, including $250 million to $270 million for the two-mile segment from North Hollywood to Universal City. No plans to extend farther into the Valley. Cost per mile is $125 million to $135 million in Valley; higher cost along downtown portion because of larger stations there.

COMPLETION DATES

Light Rail: 1993 to 1995.

Metro Rail: Uncertain because of questions surrounding financing and route through Fairfax area, but not likely before 1998.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Light Rail: Critics say above-ground operations will pose safety risks and annoy nearby homes with noise, traffic congestion and vibrations. They also say overhead lines powering trolley cars will create “visual blight.”

Metro Rail: Traffic disruption at the proposed stations (Chandler and Lankershim boulevards and Lankershim and the Hollywood Freeway). Worst traffic congestion would occur during station construction. Traffic around stations would increase, however, when subway is completed. In addition, construction of Universal City station would displace 24 businesses, 132 apartment units and 4 houses.

RIDERSHIP

Light Rail: 27,600 riders daily. 46,600 if linked by Metro Rail to downtown.

Metro Rail: 25,000 riders daily leaving the Valley.

OPERATIONS

Light Rail: Three-car trains operating every seven minutes in each direction during rush hour and every 20 minutes the remainder of the day from early morning to late evening. An average speed of 35 m.p.h., with a top speed of 55 m.p.h. Ride from Warner Center to Universal City expected to take 30 minutes.

Metro Rail: Six-car trains running every 3 1/2 minutes between downtown and the Valley during peak periods, and up to 15 minutes apart the remainder of the day from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Average speed of up to 50 m.p.h., with a top speed of 70 m.p.h. Ride from North Hollywood to downtown would take about 35 minutes.

PROS&CONS;

Light-Rail pros: Can stand alone because it would connect two major activity centers, the West Valley and North Hollywood or Universal City. Cost could be entirely covered by a half-cent sales tax increase for public transportation approved by Los Angeles County voters in 1980. Substituting the trolley for the more expensive Metro Rail between Universal City and North Hollywood would make funds available for other transit projects in the county. Those funds could help assure completion of Metro Rail from downtown to Universal City. Cons: Several suggested routes face opposition from residents and politicians. Extension from North Hollywood to Universal City in lieu of Metro Rail would necessitate change in state law requiring construction of Metro Rail to begin in North Hollywood within a year of the ground breaking downtown, which occurred Sept. 29.

Metro Rail pros: Would provide a direct link for Valley commuters to downtown Los Angeles. Construction in the Valley would fulfill commitment made to win Valley support for the subway. Cons: Currently, there is no agreement between city, county, state and federal government over how to fund Metro Rail in the Valley. Building Metro Rail in the Valley would leave less money for other transit projects and possibly none for a trolley running from North Hollywood to the West Valley.

OPINION

Light Rail: “There are significant cost trade-offs between Metro Rail and light rail construction. Between Universal City and North Hollywood, the difference is approximately $270 million for Metro Rail versus $80 million for light rail,” said Rick Richmond, executive director of the county transportation commission.

Metro Rail: “The original commitment to the residents of the San Fernando Valley must be kept and Metro Rail must be brought to North Hollywood,” said state Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys). He is unhappy about transportation commission members’ “rather arrogant” attitude. “Their attitude is this is their money, and they might be nice people and spend some of it in the Valley,” Robbins said. “That money belongs to the taxpayers.”

Sources: Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and Southern California Rapid Transit District.