Transit Panel Backs Land Purchases for 2 Rail Routes : Seeks to Ease Charges That Path Is Decided

A key Los Angeles County transit panel on Monday reaffirmed its support for buying land along a North Hollywood-to-Warner Center freight line that is one of two San Fernando Valley routes under consideration for a mass transit line.

But in an effort to show critics that the purchases are not proof that the route has been decided, the panel also recommended buying about five acres in Woodland Hills south of the Ventura Freeway, the other cross-Valley route under consideration.

Before staff members can complete the purchases, Monday’s action by the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission’s Transit Committee must be approved later this month by the 11-member commission.

Four of the five parcels recommended for purchase would be station sites, while the other would be a rail yard, staff members said.

Development Expected

The five parcels, all of which face imminent development, have a total estimated value of $46 million, staff members said.

Land not ultimately used for a rail line could be sold, probably at a profit, said staff real estate experts.

“We are merely preserving our options here,” said commissioner Mike Lewis.

In addition to approving the purchases, the four-member committee also recommended that the commission authorize an appraisal of Southern Pacific railroad’s 15-mile Burbank Branch line right of way.

The line, more than half of which traverses residential neighborhoods, crosses the Valley roughly parallel to Chandler and Victory boulevards and Oxnard and Topham streets from North Hollywood to Warner Center.

A $2.1-million study of the two routes--the Chandler-Victory alignment and the Ventura Freeway’s south shoulder from Universal City to Warner Center--is expected to be completed this fall.

The commission plans to pick a route by March and to decide whether the system should be ground-level light rail or an extension of the North Hollywood-to-downtown Metro Rail subway.

Homeowner Opposition

Although public opinion polls have shown widespread support in the Valley for a cross-Valley route, residents living along both targeted routes have formed well-organized homeowner groups to oppose the transit lines.

They contend that their single-family neighborhoods will be harmed by noise and ground vibrations from trains traveling as frequently as every three minutes.

Julie Fine, who heads one of several coalitions fighting the Chandler-Victory route, accused the commission of political arrogance in buying land before the route study is completed.

She also argued that the Ventura Freeway purchase was an attempt to divert attention from the fact that the panel had already decided on the Chandler-Victory route.