City OKs Flexible Route ‘Smart Shuttle’ Program

Despite vocal objections from one member, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday launched a pioneering $10.6-million shuttle program to be tested in the San Fernando Valley and central Los Angeles.

In a 13-1 vote, the council approved the so-called “Smart Shuttle” program that will provide taxis and various size vans to run on semi-fixed routes that can be modified to accommodate passengers.

But Councilman Nate Holden, head of the council’s Transportation Committee and the lone vote against the program, called the effort a “waste of $10.6 million.”

“If I were the boss I would fire anyone who had anything to do with the Smart Shuttle,” he said. “I don’t know who dreamed up this idea but it’s a lousy, lousy idea.”

Holden argued the city already spends millions of dollars on dial-a-ride shuttles, taxi coupon programs and commuter buses and should instead spend the money on street paving. Funding for the program will come from a transit tax measure approved by voters.

But James Okazaki, head of the city’s transit programs, said the dail-a-ride shuttles and the coupon programs are limited to disabled or elderly residents while the Smart Shuttle will be available for all residents.

Unlike regular buses, he said the Smart Shuttle buses and vans will run on flexible routes, meaning a high-tech tracking device will allow dispatchers to locate and reroute the shuttles to pick up additional passengers along the way.

The program is scheduled to begin this fall in the West Valley, northeast Valley, South-Central Los Angeles and the MacArthur Park area.

Councilman Mike Hernandez, who represents the MacArthur Park area, said the program will help low-income residents who otherwise must rely on buses that run on fixed routes.

“What do you do if you live in MacArthur Park or Westlake and it takes four bus transfers to get your son to the hospital?” he asked.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, who represents the neighborhoods around Venice, called the program a “really wonderful idea” and compared it to the jitney services that operate in New York City.

The $10.6 million will subsidize the program for two years, but city transit officials hope that after the two-year testing period the private firms hired to operate the shuttles will continue to run the program on a citywide basis without a subsidy.