Bradley Wants Voters’ Voice in Resolving Dispute on Light-Rail Line

Mayor Tom Bradley will ask the Los Angeles City Council today to put a measure before San Fernando Valley voters in June seeking an end to a stalemate over construction of a light-rail line in the Valley.

The advisory measure would ask voters if they favor construction of a light-rail line and, if so, which of five proposed routes they support, Deputy Mayor Mike Gage said Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission in December gave Valley elected officials up to a year to decide what light-rail route, if any, they favor. The commission acted after five routes proposed by its staff ran into strong opposition from residents. If no consensus is reached, available money could go to projects in other areas, county officials have said.

Bradley, in West Germany on a trade mission Tuesday, was unavailable for comment. But Gage said: “The mayor feels it’s appropriate that Valley voters have a chance to be heard.

“He believes there’s strong support for light rail in the Valley, but that all the voters out there also ought to have a chance to express their opinion. He thinks this will get a message to the county Transportation Commission that will be very clear.”

Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, expected to challenge Bradley in the 1989 mayoral race, declined to take a position on the mayor’s request until he receives the proposal. However, he expressed skepticism that a referendum would settle the issue since there is widespread disagreement among Valley homeowner groups.

Proposal Criticized

Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., assailed Bradley’s proposal, maintaining that it demonstrates a lack of leadership.

“He can’t make a decision, so he’s telling a million people in the Valley to make a decision for him,” Close said. “When we asked for a referendum on the Olympics, we were told, ‘Decisions like that were made by elected officials. That’s why you have a City Council and a mayor.’ ”

Close said he believes the light-rail issue is too complicated for voters. He said he favors Yaroslavsky’s proposal that a citizens’ commission be created to develop a comprehensive transportation plan for the Valley. That commission would make a recommendation on a light-rail line, he said.

Gage said the mayor’s proposal will be presented to the council today by Councilman Mike Woo. It is scheduled for a vote next Tuesday, he said.

The deadline for placing a measure on the June ballot is Feb. 17.

The five proposed routes are along the Ventura Freeway, the Los Angeles River, the Southern Pacific Railroad main line, Victory Boulevard and a circuitous path connecting North Hollywood with Warner Center via Chandler Boulevard and Oxnard Street east of the San Diego Freeway and Victory and Topham Street west of the freeway.

The Chandler route would connect with Metro Rail’s northern terminus at Chandler and Lankershim boulevards in North Hollywood.