Latest L.A. Transit Reorganization Proposal Would Scrap the RTD

A new Los Angeles County public transit reorganization plan was proposed Monday with the support of urban liberals and a conservative county supervisor representing suburban areas.

The latest of several suggested plans is by Chairman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) of the Assembly Transportation Committee, one of the early backers of reorganizing local transit agencies. Katz’s plan has the support of Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman and Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo, whose constituencies include the heart of Los Angeles, and of Supervisor Deane Dana, who represents suburbs along the coast and in the southern part of the county.

Regional differences, with urban lawmakers protective of big-city bus lines and the suburbs concerned about the strength of smaller municipal bus agencies, have been a stumbling block in the path of reorganization proposals before the Legislature. Widespread criticism and concerns about the present system, divided between the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, have prompted demands for creation of a new agency to take over the job of running buses and constructing and operating rail transit lines.

Katz proposed abolishing the RTD as of next Feb 1. The RTD, which operates most bus service in the county, is building the Metro Rail subway and will operate both the subway and light rail lines built by the commission.

The commission would take charge of transportation. It would have a governing board consisting of the five Los Angeles County supervisors; the mayor of Los Angeles; two members appointed by the Los Angeles mayor, with City Council consent; one member from the Long Beach City Council and a non-voting member appointed by the governor.

That’s no different from the current commission board membership. But something would be new besides broader powers. Elected officials serving on the board would have to attend meetings in an effort to hold the managers of the transit system more accountable to the voters.

At present, the officials can attend meetings but seldom do, sending alternates most of the time. Dana said elected officials will not go to the meetings unless “there is no way out.”

Woo and Edelman joined Katz at a State Building press conference in downtown Los Angeles and said the plan answers their concerns that Los Angeles might be denied sufficient representation on a new transit board. An earlier plan by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys) allowed the city only one representative.

Robbins said he agreed with most of Katz’s plan. He and Dana will meet with Katz in Sacramento this week to iron out details and try to have a final proposal ready for a Senate Transportation Committee hearing in Sacramento next Wednesday.