Assembly OKs New Transit Super-Agency

Climaxing a four-year fight, the Assembly on Monday unanimously approved and sent to Gov. Pete Wilson for his expected signature a bill to create a new Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The MTA will replace the heavily criticized Southern California Rapid Transit District and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.

A 44-0 lower house vote was cast in support of Senate amendments to the measure, authored by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar).

“This bill will untangle the wasteful web of transit agencies and will allow taxpayers to hold the MTA accountable for transit decisions and ethical operations,” Katz told his colleagues.

He added: “We’re tired of getting stuck with enormous bills for television shows and the redecoration of Metro Red Line cars. We want a transportation system that works for the public and commissioners who use judgment instead of blank checks.”

The two largely parallel agencies have come under criticism for years for their inability to cooperate on transit projects, for high-spending travel and entertainment, and for “secret back-room lobbying efforts for multimillion-dollar contracts,” Katz said.

The new transportation authority will be governed by a 13-member board of directors, including the five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the mayor of Los Angeles and three other city representatives, plus four members appointed from other cities in the county.

Katz said the new super-agency is badly needed “to stop the infighting and turf protection that’s cheated the taxpayers and commuters” for more than a decade.

Gifts from companies with business before the MTA will be restricted, and lobbying activities by former board members is prohibited.

Katz removed a section of the bill at the governor’s request that would have required local businesses to get a preference when bidding for transit projects.

Wilson, who opposes protectionist trade policies, argued that such a preference might backfire by triggering retaliation from other states or countries.