Judge Won’t Halt Work on Valley Busway

As Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials Friday unveiled a study touting the benefits of San Fernando Valley’s Orange Line busway, a Superior Court judge rebuffed critics’ latest attempt to halt construction of the 14-mile corridor.

The MTA report said the project was more financially sensible and would do more to reduce congestion than a network of Metro Rapid buses on city streets.

In a series of court actions over the past two years, opponents have been trying to stop the $329.5-million project. On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Yaffe refused to halt busway construction.

During a previous round of litigation this summer, an appellate judge stopped the project for nearly a month. When construction resumed, the MTA had trouble getting subcontractors to return because many had found other work.

The busway, which also has been plagued by design problems and the discovery of contaminated soil, is five months behind schedule.

To make up for lost time, an MTA board committee has approved spending up to $8 million on overtime to open the busway as scheduled in August 2005. The committee said that was more economical than enduring further delays.

The east-west busway, which will allow no other vehicle traffic, is being built over a former railroad track between the Red Line subway station in North Hollywood and Warner Center in Woodland Hills.

The study released Friday -- a revision of the busway’s environmental report -- was conducted in response to the appellate court ruling, which said the agency had not adequately considered project alternatives.

The study, posted on www.metro.net, said the busway will lure thousands of new riders out of their cars, while passengers on Metro Rapid buses will mostly be existing transit riders.

The MTA seeks public comment for the next 30 days.