MTA Moves to Improve Subway Station Parking

The MTA will proceed with plans to provide more parking at the North Hollywood and Universal City subway stations based on expressions of support from the agency’s board, officials said Thursday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board took no formal action, but members briefed on the plan Thursday voiced backing for the $500,000 proposal to ease the parking crunch.

“There was a consensus to proceed, so we are moving ahead,” said Tom Conner, the agency’s executive officer for transit planning.

The strongest concern was voiced by Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson, who worried that a plan to re-stripe the parking lots to provide more smaller spaces might mean more dings and nicks to sports utility vehicles.

But Conner said the re-striping would comply with city codes that require a majority of spaces to be striped for mid-size cars.

The agency also is drafting a stricter enforcement program. Conner said about 20% of drivers using the Universal City subway lot are walking across Lankershim Boulevard to high-rise office buildings and Universal Studios entertainment venues.

The only action required of the MTA board is approval of a contract next month to pave a new parking lot next to the old train depot in North Hollywood. Some residents oppose the project for fear it will delay a proposed park.