Officials Researching Valley Transit Zone

Officials are researching the possibility of creating a board that would allow the Valley to govern its own public transportation system and remove the decision-making process from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The issue will be discussed by Councilman Richard Alarcon at a meeting Thursday of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.

At the meeting, Alarcon, who is the chairman of the city transportation committee, and VICA officials will try to map out a plan to form a Valley Transit Zone. The zone would put more power into the hands of Valley officials regarding decisions on issues such as distributing funds and creating bus schedules.

Currently, the MTA runs the public transportation system in the Valley.

“We’re getting great support from the people in the MTA about this,” said Larry Gray, co-chairman of VICA’s transportation committee. “If this goes through, we’d be able to offer better service at less cost.”

For the MTA to approve the transit zone, the Valley must first show that it can run the system by spending 25% less than the MTA does.

Gray said that should not be a problem. He said the Valley would save money by hiring fewer employees and contracting with private bus companies.

“A lot of the savings will simply come by good administration of the system,” he said.

Before the plan is developed, local officials must also agree on a board to govern the transportation system.

Gray said that in other communities, boards have been created by representatives of nearby cities. He said a possibility in the Valley would be to include officials from Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles on a board.

“We still have a lot to work out,” said Gray.

Thursday’s meeting is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Valley Economic Development Center, 4717 Van Nuys Blvd.

For more information, call VICA at (818) 888-2228.