2 Valley-to-Westside Transit Studies Supported by GTLNC

The passed a motion Tuesday to support the non-profit organization Transit Coalition in urging the Metropolitan Transit Authority to further examine two Valley-to-Westside expansion projects.

Transit Coalition Legislative Director Faramarz Nabavi encouraged council members to support further review of the Van Nuys Boulevard Rapidway, which would connect Sylmar to West L.A., and the proposed Sepulveda Pass Rail Tunnel, which would run from Ventura Boulevard to Wilshire Boulevard in five minutes, something “you cannot do on the 405 freeway even at midnight.”

The organization is urging Metro to examine the areas included in the projects to ensure connectivity among all major transit lines. They are also recommending a rail line rather than the bus for both the Van Nuys and Sepulveda Pass projects.

Rail is preferable because it is more reliable, faster, comfortable, accommodates more riders, has a less negative impact on the environment than the bus and has a lower operating cost, Nabavi said.

Citing a recent study that found the I-405 is among the freeways containing the highest average daily traffic in the country, Nabavi said the two projects would also help eliminate gridlock on the busy freeway and provide a faster, more efficient mode of transportation for both Valley and Westside residents.

Further, the 101 “is the only major freeway that did not experience a significant increase (in traffic),” Nabavi said, citing a Daily News story. It may be related to the Red Line subway, which runs from North Hollywood to downtown L.A. along the 101, he said.

Additionally, by contacting the MTA and their elected officials, neighborhoods and stakeholders can not only voice their support for the two projects, but also urge that the Van Nuys Boulevard and Sepulveda Pass projects “become one transit line,” said Nabavi. The “ultimate result is one contiguous” system, he said.

So far, Nabavi said 10 Valley NCs have voiced their support for the two transit projects.

"As far as I'm aware, no organization has expressed opposition," Nabavi said.

Community and council members’ concerns over issues such as funding, parking overflowing into residential areas and the impact of the two projects on existing transit lines were also discussed during Nabavi’s presentation.

The projects would cost roughly $2.5 billion, said Nabavi, and about 40 percent has already been set aside for spending. Measure R is providing $1 billion for the Sepulveda Pass project and approximately $68 million for the Van Nuys corridor project.  Another $100 million will come from state transit funds, he said.

“Metro hasn’t decided the route or mode” of the two projects yet, said Nabavi.

Addressing one community member’s concern that the Metro Rapid bus line that runs along Ventura Boulevard may be affected, Nabavi said it takes 40 minutes to run from one end of the boulevard to the other, “and that’s according to the time table,” which doesn’t consider accidents and other route disruptions. “It’s not competitive with driving,” he said.

Since the proposed lines would not directly run through Toluca Lake, Nabavi said parking would not be an issue.

GTLNC President Andrew Westall, who disclosed he serves on the board of the Metro Expo line, said the parking issue for that particular transit project was addressed by assigning permit parking in the neighborhoods surrounding the Pico station.

The council president said adding parking lots may not be necessary either, and Nabavi added that although there are about 1,000 available parking spaces in or near the NoHo Red Line station, the majority of riders do not drive and park.

Public Safety Chairperson Jay Goldberg commented that “we don’t have a sufficient public system,” adding that he just spent a week in New York City without needing to drive or park. “Adding more parking lots is not going to resolve this situation,” he said.

Nabavi also said there will be about a dozen stations along the proposed routes, which will allow “ridership (to be distributed) throughout the Valley.”

The Transit Coalition “is just trying to make sure Metro knows what we want, and that (we get it),” said Nabavi. Had the Orange Line been recommended as a light rail rather than a bus line, “it would have been faster (with) lower operating costs” and accommodated more riders, he said.

In passing the motion to support the Metro studies, Westall said the executive committee will draft their own letter of support of the Transit Coalition's statements and submit it directly to the MTA.

Blue Moon Nights in Foreclosure, Crime Down in October

During his presentation to the council, LAPD NoHo division Senior Lead Officer Rob Benavidez said the controversial club is now in foreclosure provided the business owner does not appeal by November 28. . 

Officer Benavidez also informed the council that burglaries were down 30 percent for the month of October, with crime decreasing by 10 percent overall.

Alice Roth, field deputy for Councilmember Tom LaBonge, announced the council district 4 representative was named as chairperson of the City of L.A. Trade, Commerce & Tourism Committee.

The GTLNC meets every third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of .  For more information, visit http://www.gtlnc.org.