Alameda Corridor Dispute Heads Back to Court

Settlement talks over who should control the purse strings in the $1.8-billion Alameda Corridor road and rail project collapsed Monday, forcing a dispute between the county’s twin ports and four cities along the corridor route back into the courtroom.

The four cities--Compton, Lynwood, Vernon and South Gate--have been trying to win a larger voice in the governance of the project and filed a lawsuit last year because they felt locked out of important decisions within the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority.

After two months of talks behind closed doors this year, the cities and ports appeared to be close to an accord that would have paid Compton, Lynwood, Vernon and South Gate a reported $17 million and created a board to help them mitigate the impact of construction of the 20-mile route through their neighborhoods.

But the talks broke off, at least in part because Long Beach officials objected to the proposed arrangement and payment, according to one source.

Lisa Beazley, an attorney for the ports and cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles, declined to discuss the breakdown of talks but said all her clients were “on the same page.”

Because the two sides failed to reach a deal before a scheduled appellate court hearing Monday, a panel of judges will decide whether to throw the lawsuit back to a lower court or rule to restructure the “joint powers” agreement that allows Los Angeles and Long Beach the most authority over how the project is run.