Light-Rail Ban Jumps Track; Key Vote Set for Today

Lobbying by San Fernando Valley business leaders stalled legislation Wednesday that would ban light-rail construction in North Hollywood and Van Nuys for 10 years.

Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Tarzana), co-sponsor of the bill, was forced to delay Assembly action after recognizing that he did not have enough votes for passage. But Bane said he will bring the measure to a vote today and is confident it will be approved.

His optimism is tied, in part, to a numerical advantage he gained by the delay. Bane had planned to bring the bill up Wednesday under procedures that allow swift passage of legislation approved by a two-thirds’ majority. Instead, the bill will follow routine procedures, requiring a simple majority for approval.

Would Kill 2 Routes

Business leaders are lobbying against the bill chiefly because it would kill the only two routes that link the fast-growing Warner Center commercial area with the East Valley.

They also contend it would jeopardize the Valley’s chances for any light-rail system by interfering with an in-progress environmental study of possible Valley routes.

Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge), said Wednesday she may be unable to defeat the entire bill, which also would postpone Metro Rail tunneling in the Valley for two years, but predicted a close vote on an amendment she plans to offer today eliminating the ban on light rail.

Despite Wednesday’s developments, Roger Stanard, a Warner Center attorney and business representative, said opponents have little hope of stopping the measure in the Assembly or Senate, “but we feel much more confident about getting the governor to veto it.”

Among those lobbying against it are representatives of virtually every major Valley business group, including the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., the United Chambers of Commerce, which represent 20 chambers, and the Warner Center Assn.

On the other hand, the Metro Rail delay has nearly universal support among leaders of homeowner organizations and Valley elected officials. Most feel it is prudent to postpone the start of construction on the 2.4-mile Valley segment of the North Hollywood-to-downtown subway until it is clear federal funds are available to complete the line.

Unless construction is delayed, the Southern California Rapid Transit District will have to abide by a 1984 state law and begin tunneling in Studio City and North Hollywood by Sept. 29.

Pressure Group

Combining the popular Metro Rail delay with the controversial light-rail ban was the brainchild of state Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys), who, along with Bane, has been under pressure from a well-organized group of North Hollywood residents fighting to keep a light-rail line out of their community.

If the bill is passed by the Assembly and Senate and signed by Gov. George Deukmejian, it will effectively kill consideration of two of five possible light-rail routes. The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission voted in March to include those two routes in a $1.6-million environmental study.

One of the routes follows Chandler Boulevard east of the San Diego Freeway and Victory Boulevard west of the freeway. The other follows Victory the length of the Valley.

The remaining three routes would follow the Ventura Freeway, the Los Angeles River and the Southern Pacific railroad mainline, which runs diagonally across the Valley from Burbank Airport to Chatsworth.

County Transportation Commission planners, who favor the Chandler-Victory route, say any of the three routes that would survive under the Robbins-Bane bill would be costly and difficult to build.

By contrast, the Chandler-Victory route would be relatively inexpensive and would draw many riders, transit planners say.

Both La Follette, whose district includes Warner Center, and Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), who represents the northwest Valley, oppose the bill because, they said, it is improper for the Legislature to interfere with the route selection. They said their opposition does not indicate support for the Chandler-Victory route.

North Hollywood residents who support the Robbins-Bane bill say a light-rail line would introduce noise, vibrations, visual blight and congestion to their largely residential community.

Bane said he expects most legislators to view the bill as a local issue, which generally means their votes will follow party lines. Since Democrats dominate the Assembly and Senate, Bane said, he expects the majority to follow his and Robbins’ wishes.

However, Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) said late Wednesday that he has not decided whether to support the bill.

“I’ve decided I should take a closer look at it before saying I will vote for it,” he said.