Subway Faces New Fight Over Federal Funding

WASHINGTON — It was clear Friday that word of the Los Angeles subway’s many troubles had reached the nation’s capital, and the vultures were already starting to circle.

Rumors abounded that competing states are poised to kill or divert the $125 million in federal transportation money currently marked for Los Angeles in this year’s Department of Transportation spending bill.

“There’s just this sense around here that the project has had some problems so let’s take advantage of the low point and kick Los Angeles in the shins,” one Republican congressional aide said. “That sinkhole didn’t help.”

The subway has been beset by problems, including tunnel walls that are too thin, a giant sinkhole that shut down Hollywood Boulevard last week and a letter by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich urging key members of Congress to scrap the project.

Opponents were expected to pounce at a House Appropriations Committee meeting Friday, and Reps. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) and Julian Dixon (D-Los Angeles) had teamed up to shield the money.

No move was made. But proponents anticipate a battle when the bill goes before the full House on July 11.

“When a project suffers a setback, people entertain thoughts of acting like vultures,” Dixon said. “But it would be foolish to stop funding a program the federal government has put so much money into.”

Leaders in Washington and at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles were relieved and encouraged that the millions had cleared an important committee hurdle.

“The economic and environmental benefits of this project for the region, our state and the country are beyond question,” Lewis said. “Today’s vote provides us with needed momentum as we approach consideration by the full House in July.”

But the $12.8-billion transportation bill the House prepares to take up is $1.4 billion less than last year’s. That means cuts are running deep and any sign of trouble or dissension can render a project wounded prey.

Particularly damaging was the letter by Antonovich--a longtime critic of the subway--to House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other Republican leaders, pointing to the sinkhole as “one more illustration that underground construction is inherently hazardous, disruptive . . . and consumes enormous amounts of scarce transit capital.”

Despite Friday’s vote, Antonovich said he will continue to push for ending federal support for the subway and expressed confidence that the full House will reduce or deny the funding.

The recent problems have “sent a wake-up call to Washington,” Antonovich said Friday. “There is a great, great concern in the county of Los Angeles that [people] have been hoodwinked.”

MTA officials were quick to note that Antonovich’s term as MTA board chairman expired Friday and that he was alone in his opposition. The board has sent congressional leaders another letter, signed by Mayor Richard Riordan and others, endorsing the subway as being critical to the region’s economy.

Transit officials argue that the subway’s problems have been exaggerated. “Unfortunately, engineering is an imperfect science. There are accidents and there are incidents and we are not immune,” said MTA spokesman Jim Smart.

But Dixon, asserting that the best strategy in Congress is to confront the problems head-on, said he plans to meet with the MTA board to draw up a list of remedies in preparation for the possible floor fight.

“The best defense in fending off the vultures is a list of corrections,” Dixon said, adding that he hopes Antonovich will decide to support a project that is not likely to be funded again if this money is lost.

“Supervisor Antonovich has got to realize this is a federal spigot that cannot be turned on and off at his leisure,” Dixon said. “Once it’s shut down it will be very difficult to turn on again.”

Times staff writer Eric Lichtblau contributed to this report.