Transit deal reached for L.A. Marathon

After a dust-up via e-mail earlier this week, city and county officials have reached an agreement with Los Angeles Marathon organizers that will provide runners with free bus and train rides on race day March 4.

The for-profit marathon will foot the bill for participants’ fares, while the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will pay for extra trains, buses, drivers and security to accommodate at least 13,000 additional riders.

Officials estimate the marathon will spend $75,000 on Metro passes, with the MTA absorbing about $190,000 for additional services.

The MTA has provided expanded service for jumps in ridership during events such as the Rose Bowl, said Roxane Marquez, a spokeswoman for county Supervisor Gloria Molina, chairwoman of the MTA.

In an e-mail Wednesday, Molina criticized marathon organizers for promising runners free rides between the start and finish lines on race day without MTA approval.

Marathon President William A. Burke posted a news release on the race website Thursday, saying that Molina “did not have her facts straight.”

A cheerful statement from Molina’s office Thursday trumpeted the deal crafted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, marathon officials and the MTA.

The marathon’s new point-to-point course, which runs 26.2 miles from Universal Studios Hollywood to the Central Library downtown -- rather than a loop that starts and ends downtown, as in previous races -- will require participants and spectators to use public transportation. Instead of nine four-car Red Line trains, the MTA will operate 14 six-car trains.

Subway service on the Red Line will begin 4:45 a.m. March 4, with trains running every six minutes. Riders can get more information at a special page at the MTA website: www.mta.net/riding_metro/riders_guide/la_marathon.htm.

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susannah.rosenblatt@latimes.com