Assembly Panel OKs Setting Aside Funds for Valley Transit

Legislation to set aside as much as $20 million a year for San Fernando Valley transit projects was narrowly approved at an unusual session of the Assembly Transportation Committee late Tuesday night.

The action capped an evening of intense lobbying by Valley legislators, led by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys). Earlier Tuesday, the committee had rejected the bill, sponsored by Robbins, by a 5-5 vote.

But in an unusual twist, less than two hours later Committee Chairman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) reconvened the committee, and members reversed the earlier action, approving the bill 8 to 4.

The measure now goes to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Because the legislative session ends next Wednesday, it is unclear whether Robbins has time to push his proposal through both the Assembly and Senate.

‘Not an Easy Fight’

“I will agree this is not an easy fight,” Robbins acknowledged. “There are a number of people who feel it lacks the prospect of success, but the Valley delegation is determined and is in high gear.”

Robbins’ bill would require the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to set aside, for transit projects in the Valley, 15% of the funds it plans to spend every year. The amount set aside would probably amount to between $17 million and $20 million. It would also authorize the interest on the set-aside funds, roughly $1.5 million a year, to be used for proposed commuter rail projects serving the Valley.

Another section of the bill would repeal a state law prohibiting the sale of more than $100 million in bonds to build Metro Rail, the subway from downtown to North Hollywood. This would allow the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the County Transportation Commission to borrow money to pay an estimated $400 million to $700 million.

By lifting the cap on the commission’s bonding authority, Valley lawmakers anticipate that more funds will be available to build a transit line westward across the Valley.

Because he was unable to generate homeowner support, Robbins last week removed a provision from the bill to ban construction of a ground-level or elevated light-rail line through several Valley neighborhoods. At the time, he pledged to work for an extension of the downtown-to-North Hollywood Metro Rail subway westward to Warner Center.

At issue in the bill is whether the Legislature should spell out how local transit funds should be appropriated.

Robbins maintained that the Valley “historically has been shortchanged” and all Valley legislators seek is that “our money be spent in our community.”

“We’ve been on the short end of the stick too long,” Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge) told the committee.

Supporters also contended that they need the 15% set aside to assure that the money reaches the Valley, since none of the members of the County Transportation Commission are Valley residents.

However, Assemblyman William H. Lancaster (R-Covina), a member of the transportation committee, pointed out that members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the city of Los Angeles who represent the Valley also sit on the county transportation panel.

Lancaster, who represents portions of the San Gabriel Valley, said the bill would set an unfair precedent for the rest of the county.

Susan Brown, director of government and public affairs for the County Transportation Commission, said her agency opposes the proposal to set aside 15% of transit funds for the Valley “because it imposes a state mandate on local decision-makers. Voters of Los Angeles County gave the commission the authority to build a countywide rail system.”

In a related transportation development, the Assembly by a 69-1 vote Monday passed and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian a bill to give the Los Angeles City Council veto power over any elevated rail route within the city.

Proposals for elevated trains have been the particular target of Valley homeowner groups’ opposition.

The bill, by Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Van Nuys), specifically would prohibit the Southern California Rapid Transit District from building an elevated line if the council objects.

In addition to Valley lawmakers, supporters of the Robbins bill were Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo and business groups, including the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. and the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce.

The County Transportation Commission supported lifting the cap on its bonding authority, but vigorously opposed the section earmarking 15% of transit funds for the Valley. A commission spokeswoman and lawmakers from other parts of Los Angeles County maintained that the legislation would restrict the commission’s ability to spend transit funds throughout the entire county.