Mass Transit, in Circles

They’re circling again like hungry sharks, the motorists searching for an elusive parking space at the North Hollywood subway station.

Two months after the MTA reluctantly expanded the parking lot to 1,000 spaces, commuters are cramming in and filling it every weekday.

“It’s full, and they just keep coming,” said security guard Policarpo Gomez.

When the subway was extended to North Hollywood last year, completing the $4.5-billion Red Line, commuters regularly filled the 750-car parking lot.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority then added 250 parking spots in February by adding a new lot and restriping the old one--but only reluctantly after suggesting that motorists should stop complaining and start riding buses instead.

On a recent morning, the new 186-space lot across the street and west of the station was full by 10 a.m. At least 10 drivers had created their own spaces, parking at the ends of rows or directly on top of marked no-parking zones. A gray Plymouth was left partly obscuring a stop sign on the pavement.

The original lot, with its 70 new spots courtesy of the restriping, was also full. Nearly 30 cars were parked in no-parking zones.

Keith Freshwater of Valley Village circled his off-white 1961 Ford Thunderbird around the lot for at least 10 minutes before he found a spot.

He said the parking crunch has eased since more spots were added, but finding room is still a pain. He said he usually parks five blocks away but on this day was running late.

“I could circle for a half-hour some days,” he said while speed-walking to the subway. “And some days I just give up.”

Gomez said the bigger lot is usually packed by 8:30 a.m. on weekday mornings, and the lot across the street fills up by 10 a.m.

“It’s never going to be enough,” he said.

Rute Heidner, 49, of Northridge, takes the subway to her job as a massage therapist in Los Angeles four days a week, but has resorted to parking on a street two blocks away. She said it’s dangerous because she gets off work at 9 p.m. and has to walk to her car alone in the dark.

The MTA added the additional spaces and temporary lot after receiving complaints that subway riders, unable to find parking, were leaving their vehicles along curbs and blocking driveways on nearby side streets.

The MTA has submitted proposals for joint property development around the station, which could include up to 400 new parking spots, said spokesman Rick Jager.

Officials were not surprised to discover parking is still a problem, he said.

“We had always anticipated that once the [subway] system was up and running, people would use it,” Jager said. “We are thrilled to death that people are using it, but in a way we are a victims of our success.”

Police are expected to step up citations and ticketing of drivers who park illegally, Jager said. The MTA hopes increased enforcement will encourage people to take the bus, ride their bikes, carpool or walk to the station, he said.

Jager said he isn’t sure when a decision will be made on whether more automobile parking is needed.

While motorists wait for parking relief, the MTA will add 32 bicycle spaces by the end of April, bringing the total to 76, Jager said.