4 Main Options : Panel Votes Tonight for Rail Route

A sharply divided San Fernando Valley rail study committee, after 17 increasingly strident meetings, is scheduled to pick a light-rail route tonight.

In a preliminary vote by the 32-member committee four weeks ago, no route won a majority. But the clear leader was a controversial North Hollywood-to-Warner Center route that critics say will bring noise, ground vibrations and congestion to numerous residential neighborhoods.

The route, also favored by Los Angeles County transit planners but vehemently opposed by large numbers of affected residents, would follow a little-used freight right-of-way along Chandler Boulevard, Oxnard Street, Victory Boulevard and Topham Street.

Of the 29 members present, 14 voted for the Chandler-Victory route.

The committee was created by the Los Angeles City Council to end years of wrangling over routes, especially the Chandler-Victory route.

Finishing second with eight votes was the San Fernando Road route, which would use the Southern Pacific railroad right-of-way from Union Station to Sylmar, serving northeast Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank and the northeast Valley.

Third Choice

Third choice with four votes was an elevated route along the Ventura Freeway from the proposed Metro Rail subway station in Universal City to Warner Center.

Finally, one vote was cast for a hybrid North Hollywood-to-Warner Center route that largely follows the Chandler-Victory route but avoids most residential neighborhoods.

Seven other routes that received only light support were dropped.

Last week, the committee, dividing largely along geographical lines, voted to halt consideration of the north-south San Fernando Road route and to concentrate on the three remaining east-west routes.

While several other San Fernando Road proponents on the committee, most notably former Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler, have refused to give up, at least half of those who voted for the north-south route are expected to switch to another route.

Further clouding the outcome of tonight’s voting is the effect of a presentation last week by top state Department of Transportation officials who expressed strong interest in building an upper deck on the Ventura Freeway that could also carry a light-rail line.

Their presentation appeared to lend credibility to those arguing that a Ventura Freeway route could be devised to stay within the $785 million that county transit officials say is available to build a light-rail line between now and the year 2000.

“I detect a small trend toward the Ventura Freeway,” said Raymond J. Magana, a Sylmar attorney who hitherto supported the San Fernando Road line and is leaning toward the freeway.

“If that freeway route is gaining ground,” said Roger L. Stanard, a Warner Center attorney who heads the drive for the Chandler-Victory route, “it’s because members don’t have good cost information yet. When they do, I’m sure it will be seen as unaffordable.”

Proponents note that the freeway route would generate less homeowner opposition because it would not traverse now-quiet neighborhoods and that the line’s financial stability would not be dependent on Metro Rail’s extension to North Hollywood, as is the case with the two other east-west routes.

May Be Swayed

Some votes may be swayed by presentations tonight from two rapid-transit consultants hired to help the committee.

Consultants Tom Parkinson and John Bergerson have indicated at previous meetings that they doubt there is enough parking space along the freeway to accommodate the number of passengers needed to make that route financially stable.

They appear sympathetic to Chandler-Victory as the least costly route and the most likely one to be embraced by the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, which is building a countywide network of light-rail lines and has the final say on routes.

The consultants have noted repeatedly that Chandler-Victory would permit ample parking, would serve major ridership areas, such as the Van Nuys Civic Center and Pierce and Valley colleges, and would avoid aggravating already severe congestion at major Ventura Freeway interchanges.

Hybrid Route

The hybrid route, which has three variations, was proposed by Alan D. Havens, a transportation planner with the Southern California Assn. of Governments. He has flooded the committee with lengthy evaluations of each of the routes, including his own.

Havens, who is out of town for the rest of the month and unable to lobby for his route, appears to have generated interest but not strong support for his proposals.

The committee was given an Aug. 1 deadline by the City Council.