If planners get their way, more commuters will be Riding the Rails

Los Angeles County is in the midst of building a $183-billion rail system that will include construction of more than 450 miles of rail lines over the next 30 years. The rail network will include a combination of varying technologies, including subways, at-grade rail lines, elevated monorails and commuter trains.

A commuter train service, called Metrolink, currently operates on 197 miles of track, serving 22 stations. By 1996, the service is expected to expand to about 450 miles of track in five counties, serving 50 stations. Metrolink already connects Santa Clarita with downtown Los Angeles. Last week, transportation planners conducted tests on expanding Metrolink northward, from Santa Clarita to Antelope Valley.

In the San Fernando Valley region, several projects are on drawing boards but most would not be completed, if funding is available, until after the year 2000.

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LAX to Palmdale

Goal: To build a high-speed train on a 71.8-mile rail line connecting Los Angeles International Airport and Palmdale Airport. It would take some strain off crowded LAX by allowing travelers to fly out of Palmdale.

Cost: $4 billion.

Status: Considered a high priority, but government money not available until after 2020. MTA also exploring partial funding from private sources.

Estimated Ridership: 4,000 per hour.

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East-West Valley Line

Goal: To build a mass transit rail line across the Valley, connecting with the Red Line subway in North Hollywood or Universal City. Two options are being considered--a mostly subway line and an elevated line along the median of Ventura Freeway.

Cost: $2.24 billion for elevated line; $2.79 billion for mostly subway line.

Status: Project to be chosen early next year. Scheduled to open by 2000.

Estimated Ridership: 45,900 to 53,800 per day.

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Metro Rail Red Line

Goal: Connect Red Line subway network from downtown Los Angeles to stations in Universal City and North Hollywood.

Cost: $2.4 billion for 11.6-mile segment that includes lines to East Los Angeles and Mid-City areas.

Status: Scheduled to open by 2000.

Estimated Ridership: 13,000 to 18,000 per day between North Hollywood and Universal City.

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Burbank Monorail

Goal: To install a 6.5-mile above-ground monorail between the Burbank Media District and Universal City.

Cost: $225 million.

Status: Uncertain. Funding sources not identified. City of Burbank, the line’s biggest proponent, is seeking funding from MTA.

Estimated Ridership: 33,000 to 36,000 per day.

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Burbank to Los Angeles Line

Goal: To build an 11.9-mile light-rail line between Burbank Airport and downtown Los Angeles using existing rail lines.

Cost: $445 million.

Status: Uncertain. Project must compete against other efforts being considered by Metropolitan Transportation Authority. If approved, could be open by 2000.

Estimated Ridership: 33,000 per day.

Big City Rail

Commuter ridership on heavy rail in Los Angeles lags behind that of other large metropolitan areas. New York leads the nation with almost a half-million commuters riding at least 1,300 trains a day on more than 6,000 miles of track.

Heavy rail uses locomotive-powered trains, as opposed to the trolley-like cars of light rail. A look at three major cities:

Trains Riders Miles of daily daily track Chicago 660 140,000 500 L.A. Metrolink 48 8,100 197 Washington, D.C. 70 19,000 187

Sources: Metropolitan Transportation Authority, local governments; Researched by Hugo Martin / Los Angeles Times