Dyer Refuses to Lay Job on Line for RTD Reforms

Under intense grilling from a Los Angeles County supervisor who called him “Rip Van Winkle,” embattled RTD chief John Dyer repeatedly refused demands Tuesday to resign if he fails to produce major reforms in the bus system by next June.

Supervisor Mike Antonovich, a severe critic of the transit system’s general manager, tried three times during a 90-minute hearing to win Dyer’s pledge to resign if a recently established set of action goals is not met. Each time, a clearly flustered Dyer assured Antonovich that such a move would not be necessary.

Dyer, flanked by two members of the Southern California Rapid Transit District Board of Directors, generally defended district operations during the tense confrontation. But the general manager also acknowledged that problems exist, and he insisted that they will be corrected.

“If your action plan fails to resolve the deficiencies of the Rapid Transit District after 180 days as you have asked for,” Antonovich said, “would you then feel justified in continuing as the general manager?”

“I honestly don’t think I can face that issue right now,” Dyer said. “I’m convinced that the action plan is going to not only work but is going to work in an outstanding way.”

The action plan Dyer was referring to was unveiled Thursday to the RTD board and addresses many of the district problems that news reports have revealed since a rash of highly publicized bus accidents began last spring.

Under the plan personally drafted by Dyer, the general manager promised to correct a dozen problems ranging from alcohol and drug abuse by bus drivers to employee absenteeism. Dyer was repeatedly placed on the defensive during his presentation to the RTD board last week.

Dyer sought to explain that while problems exist, most transit experts give the giant bus system high marks. He said the problems result from an “overextended” bus system with too many passengers, not enough buses and not enough drivers.

“Then you would not agree that it was Rip Van Winkle management that did not wake up to the problem until this last year when a number of revelations were brought forward about the safety record, the managerial record, lost dollars from the fare boxes. . . ,” Antonovich said.

“Then you come forward with a 12-point proposal of which 10 points have already been recommended and adopted by your board. . . ,” he continued. “I think there are facts to warrant a lack of confidence in the RTD. . . .”

Dyer countered that “the fact that I have been dealing with many of these problems before should be to my credit.” He added, however, that “we should have been more on top of things than we were. . . .”

Dyer said he needs an “unencumbered” opportunity to carry out his proposals, as well as $2.5 million to finance them. He suggested that the funds could be raised by tapping what he said is a $128-million combined surplus of transportation funds held by a number of Los Angeles County cities.

Afterward, Antonovich said that he would push for Dyer’s ouster if the general manager gets a grade of “C” or below after six months.

Antonovich said that he was not swayed by Dyer’s comments and said that within a month of becoming general manager in September, 1981, Dyer should have realized the problems that existed.

“Rip Van Winkle has now come out of his sleep and realized that he has a problem,” Antonovich said sarcastically.