Robbins’ 3rd Try to Block Light Rail Clears Senate : Greenbelt: A $437-million park bond would carry a restriction on use of the funds for an above-ground line. The measure now goes to the Assembly.

Even though two efforts in the past year were vetoed, Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana) has revived a proposal aimed at blocking a surface rail line in North Hollywood and Van Nuys.

After several days of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the Senate on Thursday voted 27 to 5 to place on the November ballot a $437-million park bond measure that could provide as much as $7 million for a greenbelt along Chandler Boulevard.

Robbins, who has championed an underground rail line, said he placed a string on the way the greenbelt funds could be spent, prohibiting any of the land purchased with the state money from being used for a light-rail line.

In an interview, Robbins said cities or counties seeking the funds “can’t qualify for a grant by having a transit train rattling along at grade.”

Robbins’ interest in the issue resurfaced earlier this week when a Senate committee agreed to the $20-million appropriation, all of which could have been awarded to the San Fernando Valley greenbelt.

But several lawmakers sought to prevent Robbins from being able to earmark the lion’s share of the funds for the Valley project.

One proposal would have made wildlife corridors, including land in the Santa Monica Mountains owned by entertainer Bob Hope, eligible for the funds.

However, that idea was dropped before it reached the Senate floor.

Finally, a compromise was worked out that would limit the amount of money any city or county could seek to $7 million.

Under an amendment inserted by Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside), any project also would be required to be reviewed by the state Department of Parks and Recreation and, if it had been used as a transportation corridor, by the California Transportation Commission.

The measure now goes to the Assembly.

But one legislative staffer, who asked not to be identified, suggested that Robbins’ latest gambit to block a surface rail line could jeopardize the entire park bond when it reaches the Assembly floor.

Just last month, Gov. George Deukmejian vetoed a bill that would have required that any rail line built in residential neighborhoods of North Hollywood and Van Nuys be underground.

The governor said that the issue should be resolved locally.

In 1989, a similar Robbins proposal was vetoed by Deukmejian for nearly identical reasons.

The greenbelt proposal is just the latest wrinkle in a lengthy battle over the rail line.

The project--announced in May by community leaders--would turn a barren 16 1/2-mile stretch of Southern Pacific right of way into a greenbelt, including bicycle and jogging trails.

Robbins said the funds could be used to buy land along residential portions of the Chandler corridor.

Robbins described the greenbelt as “one of the few opportunities in the San Fernando Valley where we can make an acquisition of this sort.”

Neil Peterson, executive director of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, said his agency is negotiating to purchase the land but details of the project have yet to be spelled out.

In March, the commission selected a 5.6-mile subway extension from North Hollywood to the San Diego Freeway over two rival east-west rail plans.

Under another Valley area appropriation in the bond bill, $10 million would be set aside for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which buys parkland and open space in the mountains ringing the Valley.

Joseph T. Edmiston, executive director of the agency, said the funds would be available in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

He said the money could be used to purchase land in Wilson Canyon in Sylmar, north of the Olive View Medical Center.