Earthquake: The Long Road Back : Metrolink Passengers Await MTA Ruling on 2-for-1 Ticket Deal : Rail: Riders were told--incorrectly--that their $144 would cover two months. The board will decide today.

Thousands of riders who flocked to Metrolink to avoid traffic-choked highways will learn today if their monthly passes are as valuable as they think.

Many commuters who purchased tickets at Santa Clarita outlets had been told their $144 monthly passes for February are also valid for March. That information was either premature or wrong, Metrolink spokesman Peter Hidalgo said.

Although Metrolink officials said Jan. 21 that they supported such an offer, it is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that will decide today if the offer will be extended in Los Angeles County, Hidalgo said. A similar decision will be made Friday by the Ventura County Transportation Commission regarding the Metrolink line in that area.

“It has to be approved by each county,” Hidalgo said. “Metrolink has no jurisdiction.”

Hidalgo said some agents in Santa Clarita outlets, trying to spread the word about Metrolink, told customers they would get two months for one. He said inexperienced vendors may have believed the recommendation by Metrolink had decided the issue.

“Perhaps they didn’t understand the process this goes through,” Hidalgo said. “Metrolink can’t make that decision.”

One site where residents were told they could ride for two months for the price of one was Santa Clarita’s Emergency Operations Center in the parking lot of City Hall, where earthquake-related information was being distributed to residents.

City transit officials are unsure how the mistake began, but suggest it was a misunderstanding compounded by communication difficulties following the 6.6-magnitude earthquake that hammered Santa Clarita and damaged City Hall so severely it will be closed for two to three months.

“I think what you saw at the EOC was confusion,” said Bob Murphy, city transit analyst. “Someone heard something and turned it into a done deal.”

Murphy said city representatives will attend the MTA meeting this afternoon to request approval for the two-for-one promotion.

The MTA has only authorized one similar deal since the system began in October, 1992, Hidalgo said. Residents who bought a pass in January, 1993, were allowed to ride the system in February for free--an attempt by the MTA to draw passengers to the new commuter rail line.

The news their monthly passes may only be good for February after all prompted mixed reactions from riders. Several said they’ll continue to ride Metrolink regardless of the MTA decision, while others are irritated at what they consider false advertising.

“I bought my ticket figuring I don’t have a choice,” said Douglas Bryce, a Saugus resident who takes the commuter rail system to his job in Glendale. “I’m doing it because I don’t know what the commute is going to be like.”

Bryce said he had heard that monthly passes would be valid for two months, but was never told so by transit officials.

Gary Ganrau, who purchased a pass last week, said he will be disappointed if the MTA doesn’t approve the two-for-one deal.

“They’re undoubtedly making more money with all of these people riding, so they should try to help those of us trying to get over the earthquake damage,” Ganrau said.

Hidalgo said refunds will be available on a prorated basis. If a monthly pass was used for one week, a passenger will receive a 75% refund.

Metrolink ridership has skyrocketed since the Jan. 17 earthquake damaged Southern California highways, initially restricting car travel out of the Santa Clarita Valley to a two-lane road.