Judge Gives MTA More Time to Get 248 Buses
Chief U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. refused Thursday to grant a stay of his order requiring the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to acquire 248 temporary buses to relieve overcrowding and improve bus service.
Instead, Hatter gave the MTA more time to comply with his original order issued last month. The transit agency will have until Nov. 5 to contract for the 248 temporary buses until an identical number of new buses can be built and delivered. The judge gave the MTA until Jan. 3 to place the temporary buses into operation.
In his original order, Hatter concluded that the MTA had failed to comply with a landmark 1996 consent decree that requires reductions in the number of passengers forced to stand on MTA buses during peak periods.
The MTA on Monday asked the judge to stay his order, saying it could not hire and train enough drivers and mechanics by the original deadline of Oct. 23 and risked being held in contempt of court.
MTA officials and the leader of the Bus Riders Union praised the judge’s latest ruling.
“We are grateful he is giving us more time,” said Allan Lipsky, MTA’s chief operating officer. “We will continue to do the best we can to identify the vehicles, hire and train operators, and identify funding to operate the additional service.”
Bus Riders Union leader Eric Mann said the judge’s refusal to grant the stay was a victory for bus riders.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
