Angry Council Blocks Transit Study

Angered that a new county transit plan calls for putting off construction of a Torrance light-rail line to the year 2014, Torrance City Council members voted Tuesday not to conduct environmental studies of possible routes.

Council members, who had believed that they were pressing ahead on a project tentatively scheduled to begin in 1994, were told Monday that they instead were being asked to approve an environmental impact report for a project not scheduled for funding until at least 2014.

Robert Cashin, South Bay director for the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, said the delay is in accord with a new “Metro” plan that was prepared because sales tax revenues have been lower than expected and initial projects have been more expensive than planned.

The council sharply criticized Cashin’s request for environmental studies of the South Bay line now, calling it a waste of public money.

In addition to rejecting the study proposal, council members agreed to send a letter to the commission, urging it to consider earlier funding for South Bay transit projects.