RTD Approves Cuts, Reroutings in Valley

Service cutbacks and route realignments affecting 11 San Fernando Valley bus lines were approved Thursday by Rapid Transit District directors as part of a yearlong program to lower costs by reducing service.

Unanimously approved were elimination of the much-used Route 150, which for years has provided local service on Ventura Boulevard, and Routes 421 and 422, two express lines that connect Northridge and Van Nuys to downtown Los Angeles.

However, the board increased express bus service to fast-growing Warner Center in Woodland Hills.

The service changes will take effect Sept. 28. RTD officials estimate that the Valley will lose 8,000 hours of bus service a year because of Thursday’s action.

RTD board members say the cutbacks, the second phase of a regional five-phase reduction in services, are needed to offset lower federal and state aid to the district.

Valley bus riders largely escaped an earlier round of cutbacks, but 80% of the changes approved Thursday were to Valley routes.

At a public hearing last month, all three Valley route eliminations were sharply protested.

Residents who rely on the 150 bus for shopping, social trips and commuting argued against dropping a line that RTD staff members acknowledged was heavily patronized.

Petitions signed by more than 500 persons opposed to dropping the line were presented to the RTD board.

In reply, RTD staff members contended that the loss of the 150 line would be offset by rerouting Routes 424 and 425, two lines which travel along Ventura Boulevard between Northridge and downtown Los Angeles.

As approved by the board, the two routes will no longer run on Reseda Boulevard between Ventura Boulevard and Devonshire Street. Instead, they will be extended west on Ventura Boulevard to terminate at Topanga Plaza, next to Warner Center.

Gary S. Spivack, the RTD’s planning director, said the dropping of the 150 line and the rerouting of the 424 and 425 lines “will eliminate a great deal of duplication of service along Ventura Boulevard.�

Other changes approved by the RTD:

Extending Line 183, which now runs between Glendale and North Hollywood, to the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

Adding Line 240 on Reseda Boulevard between Ventura Boulevard and Devonshire Street. This line will replace the 424 and 425 service on Reseda Boulevard.

Shortening Line 420, which operates between downtown Los Angeles and Northridge. The line will now operate between downtown and Panorama City.

Adding Line 167 on Plummer Street between Van Nuys and Chatsworth. The line will replace service lost by shortening 420.