Bill Goes to Governor : Commuter Train Chugs Ahead

The Assembly approved a bill Thursday to divert an estimated $6 million from the Metro Rail subway in the San Fernando Valley as a step toward starting a Valley commuter train.

The legislation, which was sent to Gov. George Deukmejian on an 80-0 vote, also would delay until Sept. 29, 1989, the start of Metro Rail tunneling between Universal City and North Hollywood. The $6 million would come from interest on the unused Metro Rail money. It would be spread over two years.

The service, intended to relieve congestion during widening of the Ventura Freeway, would operate on Southern Pacific tracks and consist of two round trips daily at peak commuting hours between Union Station downtown and either Oxnard or Simi Valley. It would include stops at Glendale, Burbank, Van Nuys and Chatsworth.

If signed by the governor, the proposal still would face several hurdles. The California Transportation Commission has directed its staff to negotiate with Amtrak and Southern Pacific and return in August with a detailed plan for service. Negotiations also would be necessary with local governments.

Linda Bohlinger, deputy director of the state Transportation Commission, said that among the issues that need to be resolved are the cost of upgrading tracks, stations and signals; the exact cost of rail operations; and the acquisition of about 10 rail cars required for the service.

“Amtrak doesn’t have equipment” available for lease, Bohlinger said.

Bohlinger also said it would cost between $2 million and $2.5 million annually to operate the train service.

Teri Burns, an aide to Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys), sponsor of the bill, said the measure would allow interest on the unused Valley Metro Rail funds to be spent on expanding Amtrak service.

Two months ago, Deukmejian vetoed an earlier Robbins bill on diverting the Metro Rail funds, citing objections to placing the state share of the Metro Rail money in a trust fund under the control of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission because it is not a state agency. Metro Rail funds come from local, state and federal sources.

Robbins immediately introduced a new measure which would put county and city but not state shares of the money in a trust fund. In March, the Senate approved it on a 37-0 vote.

Burns expressed optimism that the governor would sign the new measure. Tom Beerman, Deukmejian’s assistant press secretary, said: “The governor has not seen this particular bill, but if Sen. Robbins has met the concerns articulated by the governor . . . then it is expected the governor would be amenable to signing the legislation.”