SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Study Backs Elevated Rail Over Subway Plan
Over a 50-year period, an elevated rail line over the Ventura Freeway would be 25% to 56% cheaper to build and operate than a rival, mostly underground, line across the San Fernando Valley, a report prepared for a county transportation panel declared this week.
The elevated line, tentatively chosen last month by the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, would cost $560 million to $1 billion less to build, $13 million less annually to operate and would generate about 16% more passenger revenue, according to the report prepared by an Atlanta-based consulting firm.
The report’s findings represent a serious setback for subway supporters, who had hoped it would show the underground alternative would be cheaper to operate, and thus persuade the transportation commission to reverse its decision supporting the elevated line. Commission members have said that cost was the primary basis for their decision.
The entire commission meets Jan. 27 to discuss the report and take a final vote on the Valley line.
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