Valley Business Group Endorses Heavy Rail

A San Fernando Valley business group has voted against recent recommendations by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build a light-rail transit system, with enhanced bus service, across the east-west Valley corridor.

Instead, the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. favors building a heavy-rail line that would run from North Hollywood to the San Diego Freeway, between Burbank and Chandler boulevards.

“The time for studying route alternatives has long since passed,� said Nathan Brogin, co-chairman of the VICA’s transportation committee. “VICA reaffirms its support for heavy rail and urges the MTA to seek federal funding in the 1997 budget� for a heavy-rail proposal.

Heavy-rail proponents have advocated options such as a deep-bore subway along that same route, or a shallow-trench subway with a concrete cover, or a shallow-trench subway.

But a recent MTA report said construction of a heavy-rail system between North Hollywood and the San Diego Freeway would cost between $673 million and $826 million. So the agency’s report recommended a lower cost monorail or light-rail system that it said would cost between $371 million and $513 million.

After public hearings in the fall, the MTA’s board of directors will make a final decision by December so the transportation plan can be presented to Congress for funding.