Track-Sharing Proposal Supported

The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission on Wednesday tentatively approved a track-sharing agreement that would allow it to operate commuter trains on two lines through the San Fernando Valley.

The commission is hoping to have the trains running within two years between downtown and Moorpark and downtown and Santa Clarita.

As part of a $450-million deal unveiled last month, the commission is buying 177 miles of track and track rights from Southern Pacific railroad, including three lines that traverse the Valley. The agreement, including the track-sharing accord, is expected to be finalized in about three months.

The Moorpark trains would travel on the Coast Main Line that crosses the Valley diagonally from Burbank to Chatsworth. The Santa Clarita trains would use the Saugus Line that parallels San Fernando Road.

Under the track-sharing agreement, commuter trains would have priority over freight trains between 5 and 9 a.m. and from 4 to 9 p.m. At other times, passenger trains would have to give way to freight, said Richard Stanger, the commission’s rail development director.

Using new double-deck passenger cars recently ordered from a Canadian manufacturer, the commission is planning to run four round trips daily between downtown and Moorpark and three daily between downtown and Santa Clarita.

In a related move, the commission Wednesday approved a $100,000 study of the possibility of attracting a private developer to build a transportation center at Chatsworth on the Moorpark line.

Commissioners hope to eliminate or reduce the cost of stations by forming joint development agreements with developers. To recoup their investment, entrepreneurs would have the right to rent space at the station site for convenience stores, movie theaters, restaurants, dry cleaners and similar businesses.

The planned Chatsworth station site, which is also being acquired as part of the $450-million sale, is an 11-acre parcel immediately east of the Southern Pacific tracks between Devonshire Street and Lassen Avenue.

The commission staff estimates that between 300 and 500 parking spaces would be needed at the site.

The study commissioned Wednesday will also determine if there is a demand at the site for a day-care center or senior citizen housing.