Fresh Start for Transit

John Dyer, the head of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, has resigned unexpectedly from the massive and beleaguered agency. His resignation, effective Jan. 31, will allow a fresh start, but the new chief will have his hands just as full.

The RTD is not a smooth operation. Problems with the drivers are varied and widely known. Absenteeism, improper licensing and drug use have been well documented. Bus accidents have reduced public confidence. Labor relations are far from harmonious. And questions have also been raised about spending patterns, fraudulent insurance claims and casual expense reporting by board members. Those challenges, plus some pretty fractious politics, may turn off otherwise qualified candidates.

The new challenges, including continued growth throughout traffic-clogged Southern California, are equally as daunting. More and more people will escape gridlock only if they depend on public transportation. Higher fares and fewer routes will provide no incentive.

An overhaul is in order. Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) had one proposal in the form of a broad new agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to replace the RTD and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. The California Legislature approved Katz’ promising approach, but only after heavy-handed politics forced a blur of amendments--including a spurious provision that Dyer could not serve as head of the new agency. The governor vetoed the measure.

Katz is willing to try again. He has asked the governor to call a special session concurrent with the 1988 regular session so that lawmakers can act quickly. Time is of the essence, but the idea must be well conceived or nothing will be accomplished. It is especially important that lawmakers and planners consider the transportation needs of the entire Southland as well as those of just Los Angeles County.

In the next year or so the RTD will grapple with major decisions including labor negotiations and the construction of Metro Rail. Those decisions can best be made by the excellent, experienced and accountable staff of a consolidated transportation agency. A vigorous and foresighted general manager should be an integral part of the new and stronger process, but only a part of it.

The RTD runs the nation’s largest bus transit system, a monumental task under the best of circumstances. On a typical weekday, 1.3 million passengers ride 2,000 buses along thousands of miles of routes throughout 80 communities in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

Los Angeles needs a well-organized, modern transit agency to address some pretty mammoth transportation challenges. Dyer’s resignation will allow a savvy new general manager to provide a step in the right direction, but only one step. The governor and the Legislature ought to approve a new transit authority to ensure smooth, dependable, accessible, affordable, attractive, safe public transportation throughout Southern California.