Metropolitan SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1994 Transiportation Authoritt'

( ) METRO7:4 SM TRO OVES

Smashing the Bus vs. Rail Myth Transit Tokens - A balanced transportation system is the answer The Best Deal in Town! Although the MTA has been pre- vented from implementing its new fare structure — at least until the results of a hearing in the U.S. Federal Court an Oct. 27 before Judge Terry Hatter (see accompany- ing article an Page 1) — the following is a breakdown of the new fare structure, as it compares with the existing fare structure, and how using the transit token can already be a cost-saving method.

Choose Tokens A 90-cent token can be used to cover the Base tran- sit fare an MTA buses and Blue Line trains. Using a token is a 20-cent savings when applied to the current one-way base fare of $1.10 he MTA has been at the center of a scheduled for Oct. 17, but the judge put the spirited public and legal debate these matter over again until Oct. 27. If, and when, the MTA implements a new fare rate of $1.35, using a days. When the MTA board approved Rail vs. Bus seems to be the real issue here. its 1994-95 fiscal year budget, part of token will amount to a sav- This article is not in defense of either ings of 45 cents per trip. the funds to reduce its $126-million transportation mode; rather, it is a state- Tdollar operating deficit were to be obtained In fact, as much as $4.50 a ment of the facts concerning the MTA's by raising the bus fares from $1.10 to $1.35. week can be saved this responsibility to the citizens of Los way for those who take Set to go into effect an Sept. 1, the fare Angeles County. one round trip every increase prompted a lawsuit against the It's the MTA's j ob to plan, build and maintain weekday. MTA by a coalition of grass-roots organiza- a balanced transportation system that tions who charge that the fare increase serves the needs of all its constituents — and About 25 mil- unfairly discriminates against minorities and such a system consists of bus, rail and high- lion tokens the poor. way programs. The MTA is working hard to are available The complaint, filed in the U.S. Federal accomplish this goal. to the public, Court an Sept. 1, alleges that the MTA's rail and can be pur- construction program is too costly and it A Balanced Transportation System chased in bags of uses funds that could cover the MTA's opera- It is often said that area resi- 10 for $9. Eighty percent of these dents live in their cars. While this may not tions shortfall. Further, the bus riders' (continued, page coalition asserts that rail transit serves pri- be true for mang who are transit-dependent, marily the county's more affluent residents, more Ulan 30 million passenger trips are while the poor and minorities make up the taken daily an Los Angeles' vast freeway bulk of the bus ridership. and street system. If L.A.'s population continues growing at its Temporary Restraining Order current rate, travel demand will rise 31% by U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter issued a the year 2015 due to a 33% increase in popu- temporary restraining order, and later a pre- lation and a 29% increase in employment. liminary injunction, forbidding the MTA to With only existing planned improvements, raise its bus and Blue Line trolley fares. The the average rush-hour speed will drop from MTA was unsuccessful in appealing the the current 29 mph to only 7 mph by 2015, injunction before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court and street driving will slow to only 4.9 mph. of Appeals. The bus fare therefore remains at $1.10 until there is a full hearing an the To help improve traffic flow and increase matter before Judge Hatten A hearing was commuter options, an integrated Metro (continued, page 3) used for buses. Total MTA subsidy to for fiscal year 1995 is $76 million ("Tokens,"continued) — 2.6% of MTA's budget. tokens were newly minted in anticipation of the fare increase. In short, tokens are CEO Talk nTotal cost of MTA's combined rail program, the best transit deal in town. including construction and operations, is BY RANNKLIN WHITE 29% of MTA's total $2.9 billion budget — Transfers will continue to cost 25 cents, not the 79% claimed by the plaintiffs. and only 10 cents for seniors, disabled. Monthly passes will still be available for The facts regarding who is and will be using the elderly and disabled, and K-12 and Facts and Fictions the rail lines debunk completely the plaintiffs' vocational students at discounted rates. claims of racial bias. Indeed, the charges against MTA are not about discrimination, "Our Jong-term plan is to have up to 660 It seems ironic but rather about rail disenchantment coming outlets available where riders may buy that the MTA from those who oppose rail construction. tokens," said MTA Chief Executive should be accused Their disenchantment is short-sighted. Officer Franklin White. "I strongly urge of racial prejudice regular cash payers to use the conve- The Southern California Association of in setting fares nient tokens." Governments predicts by the year 2015 a 31% when approxi- increase in travel demand arising from a 33% mately 75% of our Benefits When Traveling Between Zones increase in population and a 29% increase in employees are There's some good news for those MTA employment. Notwithstanding the rail lines minority and vir- bus and rail patrons who must travel we are presently building, with present tually every bus between zones on their daily commute. behavior, in 2015 during the peak hour free- and rail line we Once the new fare increase is implement- way speeds will average 7 mph and street operate serves ed, which will raise the base fare rate speeds 4.9 mph. minorities. Odder still is the accusation that from $1.10 to $1.35, patrons traveling the rail lines under construction are to serve Such conditions will destroy the regional between zones can use a a 90-cent token white communities, when statistics show economy and make it impossible to meet clean to cover their initial fare, after that, each every line under construction by the MTA air mandates. Alternative modes, like rail, additional zone traveled costs 50 cents. will serve predominantly minority groups. which supplement the road system, will clear- Before the new fare structure goes into Here are the facts: ly be needed. effect, zone changes remain at 40 cents. n Minority population in the rail corridors Since the nay-sayers have no responsibility "Even though our zone rates may go up that we now serve or in which rail pro- for and have failed to examine the future, by a dime," said Franklin White, the jects are under construction averages they oller no solutions. But we, in positions of MTAs chief executive officer, "when a 81%. responsibility, recognize that the MTA has at patron uses a token for the base fare, he least two fundamental obligations: or she is ahead of the game by 45 cents." n The Long Beach Blue Line has a two- thirds minority ridership. To provide good transportation to today's Bus passengers who ride an MTA riders; and also express bus, with a freeway as part of its n The Pasadena Blue Line, singled out as an regular route, will be the most affecteu example of preference for wealthy white to prepare for the transportation demands of tomorrow. by the zone fare increase. Express buses suburbanites, is actually defined by the travel a maximum of five zones. which Federal Transportation Authority as a I believe the MTA Board struck the right bal- can add as much as $2.50 to the base fare. minority line, with a 63% minority within ance in pursuit of these two objectives and The new zone fare for seniors, the dis- its corridor. that their decision is confirmed by the fare abled and blind patrons will increase n Metrolink, a creation of five counties with data from other urban centers which clearly from 20 cents to 25 cents. its own board of directors, is funded from demonstrates L.A.'s proposed fares to be firmly in the mainstream. For example, The new fare structure also assigns several local voter passed initiatives, the three zones to the Metro Blue Line Sys- revenues from which cannot legally be Philadelphia's fare has been $1.50 for several years. It was, after all, the MTA's first fare tem. One zone boundary is between Del increase in six years. Amo and Artesia Boulevards, and the r other one is between the Firestone and Federal Court is no place for resolution of this Florence stations. Blue Line riders Receive argument. How much riders ought to con- entering any portion of the zones, will tribute to the costs of transit and where to also be required to pay an additional 50 strike the Balance between service for today cents for each zone. Metro Moves and preparing for tomorrow are questions of public policy and better left to a board respon- For example, a Blue Line rider boarding Every Month sive to the electorate. Whether rail ought to in Long Beach intending to go all the be pursued also is a matter for the MTA way to could use If you'd like to be on our mailing list, Board, not the court. a 90-cent token to pay the base fare fill out your name and address, clip ($1.35 without a token), plus the addition- and mail to: Ironically, the judge's intervention may pro- al zone charges to pass through two duce the opposite effect of that sought by the zones (50 cents each), which amounts to Mailing List Support Center/#10-Gien plaintiffs. The new fare structure, if imple- Metropolitan Transportation Authority-MTA $1.00. mented on Sept. 1, would have eliminated $31 818 West Seventh Street, Suite 1100 Also, northbound Blue Line riders wish- Los Angeles, CA 90017 million of our 94-95 deficit. The court's injunc- ing to transfer to the Metro Red Line tion is costing us approximately $110,000 per weekday, or roughly $3.1 million per month. subway system in downtown Los Even if we are successful, as I believe we will Angeles, may do so at no additional be, balancing the budget may require addi- charge. Riders who transfer to the Red Name Line should keep their northbound Blue tional cuts in service. Line ticket handy in case of inspection. Raising fares was no easy decision. Given a choice of a fare increase or significant service The fee to transfer between bus lines will cuts, the public preference was to retain the only cost 25 cents; seniors, disabled and blind passengers will only be charged a 10- City, State, ZIP service. In the end, the plaintiffs' pursuit of its anti-rail agenda may force us to both raise cent fee for transfers to other routes. C) fares and cut service. © ("Bus vs. Rail," continued) Overall, the MTA's rail systems currently Stretching Dollars transportation plan is being developed that running have steady ridership. The Metro The MTA oversees most of the money spent will include all available transportation ser- Blue Line averages almost 40,000 riders a on transportation within Los Angeles vices. Designed to be user-friendly, the day, and the short Metro Red Line (a 4-mile County, which amounts to more than $3.6 MTA's bus, highway and rail programs con- subway) carries 17,000 daily. Although billion a year. Metrolink's ridership numbers later leveled tinue to expand and improve, making a case II 24% comes from taxes collected by the for better mobility as we go. off and is now about 16,000 riders a day, federal government; that's an impressive count, considering this Meanwhile, the California Department of n system is only two years old. 17% comes from state-collected taxes; and Transportation (Caltrans) continues to n 59% is from local revenues (primarily improve and expand the state's highways to Comparing Fares Propositions A & C). provide a safe network of roads. The transit fare on the Metro Blue Line is In its complaint, the bus riders' coalition con- the same fare a bus passenger pays — 81.10 Proof is in the Pudding tends that the MTA can easily transfer its base fare, or $1.35 if the fare increase is The Northridge earthquake earlier this rail construction funds to cover the opera- implemented; the current fare on the sub- year, tragic as it was, provided the best case tions shortfall — instead of raising the bus way is only 25 cents. for an integrated transportation system. fare. This is not possible, as the facts bear Buses, trains and emergency freeway car- Metro patrons can also take advantage of out: the best transit deal in town by using transit Pool lanes all worked together to keep n Shifting $50 million from the Pasadena tokens. At 90 cents apiece, one token covers people moving after the collapse of critical Line, as the coalition would have the MTA the base fare on either a bus or a Metro Blue portions of L.A.'s freeway system. do, is not only unfeasible, it is illegal. The Line train — a savings of 20 cents under the For example, within three days of the earth- only possible Blue Line money that could current fare rate, or a savings of 45 cents if quake, Caltrans had created temporary be transferred to operations is about $5 the rate increases. carpool lanes on the Santa Monica Freeway, million, available only if MTA defaults on considered a main artery for downtown com- Considering that the trains must travel its bond obligations. greater distances — from such outlying muters. Bus riders and ridesharing n Metrolink gets no funding from the FTA areas as Santa Clarita and San Bernardino motorists were able to travel in half the time for construction or operation of its sys- — the fares on Metrolink are appropriately as those commuters in single-occupant cars. tem. Funding is from local sources as a higher than those paid by most MTA bus rid- result of several voter-passed initiatives, The MTA and other municipal bus agencies ers for much shorter commuting distances. provided extra buses, and many commuters and cannot be used for buses. took advantage of them. And, finally, the Minorities and Rail Transit n The total MTA subsidy to Metrolink for biggest boon of all proved to be the inter- The main impetus of the bus riders' com- fiscal year 1994 is $76 million — which is county commuter rail network, Metrolink. plaint against the MTA is a contention that only 2.6% of the MTA's budget: Additional trains and extended routes were rail riders are primarily white and affluent. added within a few days of the earthquake. Balanced Budget for a Balanced System (For further information about the actual In order to build and maintain any transportation Metrolink carried more than 30,000 daily numbers to the contrary, please see CEO system, there must be a balanced budget. passengers during the next two weeks . The Franklin White's column on Page 2.) majority of new riders on the Metrolink Sys- (continued, page 5) tem were from the northern areas of the county and beyond, where the earthquake Fare Comparison Chart took its largest toll. The following information details the current bus and rail fare structure, and the MTA-approved In addition, many of the county's employers new fares, which are subject to a ruling expected in the U.S. Federal Court on Oct. 27: joined the cause by providing company vans at Union Station to pick up their employees Current New who had traveled downtown by public tran- Cash base fare $1.10 $1.35 sit. Token (valid for base fare) .90 .90 All of these efforts accomplished overnight what transportation planners have been try- Zone Changes (per zone) .40 .50 ing to do for decades. Transfer Charge .25 .25 A similar experience occurred 10 years ago Senior, Disabled & Blind Base Fare .45* .45 during the Los Angeles Olympics. Senior, Disabled & Blind Zone Changes (per zone) .20 .25 Angelenos came together — through stag- gered work hours, use of public transit, ride Senior, Disabled & Blind Transfer Charge .10* .10 /use sharing, etc. — to ease getting around dur- Monthly Pass 42.00 none ing a time when many more people than Express Stamps 12.00 none usual were on our streets and highways. Senior, Disabled & Blind Monthly Pass 10.00 12.00 L.A.'s experience during the Olympics and after the earthquake disaster proves that Students (K-12) pass 18.00 20.00 transportation solutions are not simply a CollegeNocational Students 25.00 30.00 matter of bus vs. rail. They are a matter of *blind passengers ride free the public's acceptance and use of a variety of transportation methods and modes. How to Get Information About the Fares and Tokens Ridership Numbers n The MTA has published a series of information brochures explaining the use of tokens It has been projected by transportation and how they can be purchased. They are available on MTA buses and trains. experts that when the Metro Rail System is n Tokens are available for sale at over 400 outlets throughout the completed (around the year 2001), there will area. For information on the nearest token sales outlet, call (213) 972-6235. be at least 500,000 daily rail riders. When you add that to the MTA's current bus rider- ▪ For general information about fares and tokens, or to receive a brochure, patrons can call 1(800) COMMUTE. ship of 1.3 million, clearly both a rail and a bus system are necessary to keep Los n For a recorded message about routes and fares, call 1(800) 870-OMTA (1-800-870-0682). Angeles moving.

3 tions were opened, and ridership nearly Southern California District tripled as commuters searched for trans- (SCRTD) merged to become the MTA, the portation alternatives to the quake-damaged MTA board approved the application for freeways. TEA monies. • Briefly Speaking In March, Metrolink opened its with eight new stations and MTA Supports Prop. 181 service to Oceanside. In September, the Statewide Initiative Could Generate $500M NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST nation's first childcare facility associated For L.A.'s Rail Construction Projects with a major transportation center opened The MTA has joined state leaders and other at Metrolink's Montclair Station. • state agencies Judith Pierce Hired as CAO in support of Judith Pierce, an attorney with 12 years Proposition senior-level transit management experience, 181, a has been selected as the MTA's Chief statewide ini- Administrative Officer. Pierce, who joined tiative on the MTA on Sept. 19, is responsible for man- the November aging the day to day operations at the MTA, ballot that, if and is specifically in charge of the adminis- approved, trative and finance functions, including labor would provide relations, pro- $1 billion in curement and the general obliga- transit police. tion bonds for funding of rail Pierce was projects in recently the California. Assistant General Manager "Passage of for rail opera- this proposi- tions at the MTA Moves Ahead to Landscape tion would allow some on-going MTA rail Southeastern Metrolink's Santa Clarita Corridor projects to proceed on schedule," said Pennsylvania On Sept. 21, the MTA approved a funding Franklin White, the MTA's CEO. "Projects Transportation agreement with the non-profit Los Angeles that could receive funding include the San Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, where Conservation Corps (LACC) to plant trees, Fernando Valley East/West rail line and the she also served as Chief Administrative native grasses and wildflowers along Pasadena Blue Line," he said. • Officer from January, 1990 through the end Metrolink's Santa Clarita route between $165M Federal Funds for Red Line of 1992. Sylmar and Burbank. and $150M for Capital and Operating Before she joined SEPTA in 1990, Pierce There is no impact on the MTA budget, since Needs Approved was General Manager of the Brooklyn, and the agreement is fully funded by state and President Bill Clinton signed the 1995 later the Bronx, bus divisions in the two federal grants; one from the State of Department of Transportation largest boroughs of New York City. Before California Environmental Enhancement & Appropriations Act on Sept. 30, providing her transit experience, Pierce served as Mitigation Program (EEMP) in the amount more than $165 million to continue construc- Assistant United States Attorney for the of $183,000; and the other one from the fed- tion of Segment 3 of the Metro Red Line, Eastern District of New York. eral Transportation Enhancement Activities and more than $150 million for capital and Pierce earned her Juris Doctorate from (TEA) program for $250,000. operating expenses. Rutgers Law School, Newark, New Jersey Known as the Northeast San Fernando The $165 million for the Red Line is the and her Bachelor of Arts in social and politi- Valley Greenway Project, this demonstra- largest allocation for any transit project in cal sciences from The City College, New tion project has been a coordinated effort the nation, and represents 26% of the total York. • between the MTA, Metrolink and local cities budget for new rail projects. The bill also along the Santa Clarita right of way. It is the provides: Metrolink Celebrates 2nd Anniversary MTA's first large-scale greenway project on n and Opens Cal State L.A. Station a right of way, and it will be a boon to both More that $150 million in formula funds October 26 marks the second year of Metrolink riders and the businesses and res- for mass transportation capital and oper- Metrolink's operations. The anniversary cel- idents along the route. ating expenses to be administered by the Federal Transit Administration. ebration is being held on that date at the site The planting and seeding work will provide n of the Metrolink's newest station, which is job training and experience to local youth, as $7 million for the continued construction located on the southeastern edge of the Cal well as involvement opportunities for com- of the Gateway Intermodal Transit State Los Angeles campus on State munity volunteers. This project also allows Center at Union Station, a vital trans- University Drive next to the I-10 freeway in for future developments along the Santa portation hub linking five Southern East Los Angeles. Clarita to Burbank corridor. California counties that can eventually serve over 100,000 passengers a day. During the past 12 months, the Southern The total awarded under both grants is n California commuter train system has grown $433,000, including $12,000 for conceptual $6.5 million for the Advanced Technology to 350 miles, with 39 stations and 75 daily planning and design, $292,000 for construc- Transit Bus, commonly referred to as the trains. Average ridership exceeds 16,000 tion, $14,500 for construction management, "Stealth Bus," a new generation bus that passengers each weekday, making Metrolink and $114,500 for truck watering (using recy- uses lightweight materials and clean, fuel- the nation's eighth largest commuter train cled water). The LACC will receive the efficient technology. system. $292,000 amount for the planting and land- Representative Julian Dixon, who was Metrolink's biggest challenge came earlier scaping. instrumental in holding Los Angeles funds this year when the ground shook violently The project was first brought to the former intact throughout the appropriations on Jan. 17. Within a few days of the 6.6 Los Angeles County Transportation process, said "I'm pleased that the Congress Northridge earthquake, Metrolink had Commission (LACTC) board in 1992 when has affirmed its support for our region's extended its service by 44 miles to approval was given to apply for the EEMP efforts to build a modern and efficient trans- Lancaster in the Antelope Valley and deep funds. Then, in 1993, after the LACTC and portation system. CD into Ventura County. Seven emergency sta- community support by launching several innov- ative programs. The strategy emphasizes prevention education for students and parents, as well as community involvement. Volunteer MTA employees have reached more than 500,000 county residents in presentations to churches, schools and civic groups, encouraging A Strike is Tough on Everyone former RTD — the opportunity to develop community action against graffiti and vandal- closer working relationships. As a result, a ism. By Arthur Leahy deeper sense of teamwork between the two The program is active in South Central Los Executive Director of MTA Operations former entities has evolved. I think it's also Angeles, Watts, East Los Angeles, Chinatown safe to say that all of us at the MTA learned Twice in the last three years, as contracts and the Pico Union area, as wen as in some sub- with the MTA's three principal unions drew new ways our bus system can be improved. • urban communities throughout Los Angeles to a dose, a contingency service plan was in County. People are taught safe methods for place so that as many buses as possible could APTA Honors MTA's using cleaning solvents and provided with serve the public if the unions walked out. Anti-Graffiti Program paint, brushes, protective gloves and masks for In 1991, the MTA and its unions reached The MTA has won a First Place Ad Wheel cleaning bus shelters, benches, and surrounding agreements, and a contingency plan was not Award from the American Public Transit walls. necessary. But, on July 25, 1994, the unions Association (APTA), the nation's premier Meanwhile, the Transit Police continue to be on walked for nine days — and an emergency transit advocacy agency. The annual Ad the forefront of the agency's anti-graffiti cam- service plan was kicked into action. Wheel award program honors the best in paign. The Graffiti Habitual Offender When the strike started, Los Angeles was transit marketing, advertising, public rela- Suppression Team tracks, apprehends, and hit by major trottle jams and commuters tions and communications in the United prosecutes hard-core taggers. In addition, the faced lengthy delays in getting to and from States and Canada. MTA's Transit Police Department's No TAG work. People who depend on public trans- The MTA's winning program, Take Pride- program helps third and fourth grade school- portation were stranded, and many who Stop Tag, was developed by the MTA's children develop responsibility and seif-esteem normally ride a bus to work, found them- marketing department to halt the spread of so that they will resist graffiti, vandalism or selves driving their cars instead, which graffiti and vandalism on MTA buses. gang involvement. added to the congestion. In its outreach efforts, the MTA has enlisted There is also a partnership program with the The MTA's first priority is to serve its riders, schools located in areas where a high degree of a strike notwithstanding. Thanks to the ded- graffiti on buses has been reported. Called ication and skill of the MTA's non-contract METRO-WATCH, school staff ride MTA buses employees (mostly management personnel), and report student vandalism and other inap- the contract bus providers that were com- propriate behavior to a school-site coordinator. missioned to provide temporary buses and When the MTA announced its Zero Tolerance drivers, as well as the patience of our riders, Program last year, the aim was to make 1,508 we were able to transport more than 1.5 mil- buses — or 66% of the total bus fleet — graffiti lion passengers during the nine-day walkout. free by the end of this fiscal year— a goal that The MTA is literally the first transit proper- has been exceeded! The MTA countywide toll- ty in recent history to operate bus and rail free number for reporting graffiti activity is service during a strike. 800-STOP-TAG. The task of coordinating strike operations fell to MTA Assistant Transportation Students busy at work in their Director Ralph Wilson, a veteran of 27 years neighborhood painting over grafitti in virtually all aspects of bus operation, as part of the MTA's Take Pride - including being behind the wheel. Mr. Stop Tag program. The program Wilson's experience as a bus driver, division won a First Place Ad Wheel Award manager and staff assistant over the years from the American Public Transit served him well in his effort to coordinate Association (APTA), honoring the the emergency service plan. best in transit marketing and communications. I want to commend the MTA accountants, planners, and other non-represented employees who suddenly found themselves ("Bus vs. Rail,"continued) inating the regular monthly pass, fare levels learning how to drive 40-foot buses. By the The fare increase was was one of several equalized. time the walkout occurred, several hundred steps taken this year to achieve a balanced of these employees had already received the MTA budget. After careful review over a At the same time, the MTA instituted a state-mandated training for a skill they period of months, and following two public large-scale marketing effort to introduce the thought they would never need. hearings, the MTA's Board of Directors 90-cent token to transit riders who may not be aware of its cost-saving advantage. A I also want to commend union leaders and voted in July to raise the base transit fare by token can be used to cover the base transit contract employees for their efforts in 25 cents — the first hike in six years, and one fare — which is, in effect, a 45-cent savings. resolving the issues within a relatively short that brings Los Angeles up to par with tran- span of time, in a peaceful and cohesive man- sit fares in other major U.S. cities. In addition, MTA reduced its staff by 600, ner. Strikes, notoriously, can go on for The board also voted to discontinue the use cut in half the number of contracts awarded weeks, even months, and I know that union of monthly transit passes, which riders can to outside services, endured a 9-day bus employees were concerned about getting the use for unlimited boardings for a flat fee; workers' strike to reduce labor costs by $20 buses back on the street in full force to serve however, discounted passes for elderly, dis- million, reallocated capital funds to make the Los Angeles community. abled, and student riders were retained. more monies available for operating costs, and cut back on some bus routes. There was a blessing in disguise during this The board's decision was based on the facts trying period because it afforded the regarding regular monthly pass users. None of these decisions were easily made, employees of this fairly new agency — an Regular monthly pass users make up only and at no time did the bus fare increase have agency that was created by last year's merg- 18% of MTA riders. The least affiuent rider anything to do with the money allocated for er between the former LACTC and the could not afford the $42 pass rate, so by elim- rail construction. (Z)

5 tion, replaces McSpedon as the acting execu- tive officer of construction. Adams, who has 43 years of construction experience — including 10 years on the Los Angeles rail projects — will manage the activities of the Metro Construction Division. • Subway Update - MTA's Rail Kenny) deliberately concealed shoddy work- Jerry Baxter Joins MTA manship in filling the expansion gaps in the Program to be Revamped tunnel liner," said White. "These allegations In another move to revamp the rail con- Franklin White, the MTA's CEO, has have also been referred to our inspector gen- struction program, White engaged Jerry announced that an interim construction eral for investigation." Baxter, the regional chief management plan aimed at strengthening of operations for the the agency's rail construction program will Local, State and Federal Review California Department of soon be put into place. White's announcement about McSpedon Transportation (Caltrans). came six days after the Federal Transit Baxter left Caltrans in "Effective immediately, I'm replacing Administration (FTA) suspended future mid-October and has Edward McSpedon as executive officer of funding for subway expänsion, pending joined the MTA as a construction and president of the Rail improvements in the management of L.A.'s Deputy for Construction Construction Corporation," said White at a rail construction program. Management Review. Over the next four to news conference on Oct. 11. "I believe a six months, Baxter will study the MTA's con- change of leadership and a different manage- struction management activities and make ment approach is what is needed at this time recommendations regarding organizational in our rail construction program." and procedural processes. • The plan also calls for the MTA to assume immediate control of construction manage- Disband the RCC ment quality control and safety programs CEO White recommended to the MTA for all construction projects. board that the RCC be disbanded in favor of "This action will ensure appropriate quality a standing Construction Committee, and a control measures are in place, and safety Construction Division be established to standards are maintained," said White. "We operate within the MTA. The RCC's board hope these measures will improve the Per- function could be performed by the commit- formance of the construction contractors and tee, made up of five MTA board members construction management oversight firm." and two outside contracting or construction experts. White's recommendation was Problems Identified approved by the MTA board at its Oct. 26 Over the Aast few months, a series of prob- White's plan for resuming tunneling along meeting. • lems have been identified around the Blvd. was forwarded to the FTA construction of Segment 2 of the Metro Red on Oct. 17. The Los Angeles City Council has San Diego Metro to Buy MTA's Line. One leg of Segment 2 is under con- also provided a consultant to review the tun- Change Control System struction from the Metro Rail station at neling problems, and the report will be The San Diego Metropolitan Transit Westlake/MacArthur Park (where the com- forwarded to him. pleted Segment 1 ends) along the Wilshire Development Board (MTDB) has formally corridor to a station at Wilshire/Western. The State of California, which provides sig- agreed to purchase the MTA's sought-after The second and Tonger leg extends along the nificant funding for the subway project, has Change Control System (CCS). The MTDB, Vermont/Hollywood corridor and turns indicated its concern in the matter. Senator which operates the and north on Vermont Ave. and west along Quentin L. Kopp will chair a committee that other public transit systems, plans to use the Hollywood Blvd. It is along this second leg will meet on Nov. 2 in Los Angeles to review system to manage several large rail exten- that construction problems have surfaced. the MTA's rail construction program and sion contracts. The purchase agreement is project management. The hearing was expected to be finalized withing the next few Tunnel construction was halted on Aug. 18 requested by Senator Tom Hayden, who weeks. followed by ground subsidence along heads the state's transportation committee. (continued, page 7) Hollywood Blvd. at Hudson Ave. Early explanations of the sinkage include soft, Interim and Future Possibilities MTA CEO Praises McSpedon's sandy soil, broken water mains, and possible White has further stated that, subject to Contribution to Rail Program earthquake damage. board approval, the MTA will notify "Los Angeles owes Ed McSpedon a In addition, it was discovered that the con- Parsons-Dillingham, the construction over- debt of gratitude for his years of leader- tractor, Shea-Kiewit-Kenny, apparently sight firm for the Red Line, that it will be ship of the under the oversight of the management firm phased out as construction manager for program," said Franklin White, the of Parsons-Dillingham, had used wood Segment 3 of the subway project, and he MTA's CEO. "Ed was instrumental in wedges of insufficient strength to brace the requested that Shea-Kiewit Kenny, the con- the design and construction of the tunnel. Preliminary tests also indicate that struction contractor currently building Metro Blue Line, and in completion of contact grout of sufficient quality may not Segment 2, restructure its management the first segment of the Metro Red have been used, nor was it in adequate team before it completes the Line. He also was responsible for amounts or in a timely fashion. Thus, tunnel Vermont/Hollywood tunnel contract. development of the Metro Green Line, support may not have been capable of hold- The MTA will determine whether to retain planning for the Pasadena Blue Line, ing the weight of the soil load above it. these firms on the Vermont/Hollywood tun- and much of the construction of the sec- All of these suppositions are currently being nel contract based, in part, on a report being ond segment of the Red Line, as well as investigated by the construction engineer- prepared by the Wiss, Janney, Elstner the planning and design efforts for ing firm of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, inspection team. Segment 3." hired by CEO White. Meanwhile, a nationwide search will be White told news reporters on October "Allegations also have been made by the launched to find a permanent replacement 11 that he wanted to make it clear that construction manager (Parsons-Dillingham) for the official responsible for the MTA's rail McSpedon "has done outstanding that the tunnel contractor (Shea-Kiewit- construction program. In the interim, John work" for the citizens of the region. () Adams, RCC's vice president of construc- In restoring the lake after it had been drained for subway construction, the MTA rebuilt the lake with a new asphalt liner to improve maintainability, upgraded the lake's aeration system to improve the oxygen sup- ply for aquatic life, provided new lighting, A Fish Tale: Kids Restock caring for the fish, and, in the process, learned built a new walkway around the lake, pro- about biology, ecology and transportation vided a new lighted fountain as the lake's MacArthur Park Lake planning. centerpiece, and enlarged the island in the With a collective flip of their tails, hundreds lake's center. CD of mosquito-eating fish splashed into the limpid waters of MacArthur Park on Sept. 27. The guppy-sized fish were released by students from six Los Angeles elementary Children on schools who raised them in a project spon- hand for the sored by the MTA. restocking of Restocking the lake with fish is one of the MacArthur final steps toward full restoration of the Park Lake peer south side of MacArthur Park, which was into one of the closed in April, 1991, for construction of the tanks used in Metro Red Line west of the Westlake sub- the classroom to raise the new way station. The children and their teachers fish for the were joined in the ceremony by officials lake. from the MTA and the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. The children spent many hours feeding and

("Working on the Railroad,"continued) Metro Green Line Theme freeway median — in conjunction with the This will be the first sale of our system," said freeway's construction — created some Jeff Christiansen, vice president of program Selected rather unusual design and construction chal- management for the Rail Construction "The World Just Got a Little Bit Greener!" lenges. While Caltrans was responsible for Corporation (RCC), the MTA's construction Remember the above words. They will soon construction of the 1-105, Metro Rail con- arm. "The CCS fills a major void that exists emblazon posters, tractors Morrison Knudsen (MK) and in the heavy construction industry, and banners, and pub- Herzog Contracting Corporation have because of the level of support it provides, lic information installed the trackwork. the system is in big demand." giveaways at Though both contracts involved similar The system, which was initially developed events planned work, each presented different challenges. for the MTA's in-house use, provides defini- around next year's Herzog's work encompassed the 3.5-mile El tive contract change, claims, and document opening of the Segundo guideway and Hawthorne Yard submittal tracking, generates forms, and has Metro Green Line. section, and MK completed the 16.5-mile a mechanism for extensive retrieval of his- The MTA's mar- freeway portion. torical records. In 1991, the RCC keting department Herzog's work on the guideway called for determined that no existing software pack- held a "name the Kenneth Navran, installing rail onto a concrete surface of an age supported large construction projects theme" contest for with their stringent federal, state and local Green Line theme line elevated guideway. Trackworkers customar- winner MTA employees to ily work close to the ground, but here they funding regulations. submit their ideas found themselves 30 feet in the air. Implemented in 1992, the CCS has realized for a Green Line theme. Transportation nearly a 75% reduction in change prepara- Operations Assistant, Kenneth Navran, For MK, it wasn't a matter of elevation, but tion time. The system also has been came up with the grand prize winner among of track section availability. The contract recognized as an important element in the more than 1,200 entries. For his idea, he required installation of traditional railroad achieving more than 60% reduction in was presented the grand prize of a Saturday track elements — concrete ties, rail, rail change cost on the second segment of the night stay for two on the Queen Mary, along Chips, and ballast — on a 35-foot-wide earth- en right-of-way flanked on either side for Metro Red Line. with a champagne brunch, tickets to the Philharmonie and the Los Angeles County (continued, back page) News of the the state-of-the-art system has Fair, and Metro Green Line memorabilia. spread to other transit agencies and con- struction and engineering management Some of the other themes suggested include companies, and several firms and agencies "Grow With the Green," the first prize win- have expressed interest in obtaining the sys- ner submitted by Thomas McCluskey, an tem. Since MTA board-approval was RCC team field office representative, and obtained in February to market the system, second prize winner "Green All Year more than 35 demonstration packages have Round," submitted by Arthur Martinez, a been shipped. Further, the system has been sheet metal worker in the MTA's central inspected extensively by federal, state, maintenance facility. • county and internal auditors, who continue to praise the system's effectiveness. Metro Green Line Celebrates Revenues from CCS software sales will be Track Completion used to offset the cost of continued mainte- Speaking of the Green Line, the recent com- nance of automated systems used by the pletion of the its 20-mile trackway brings the Green Line Resident Engineer Harry MTA to manage rail project information. system one giant step closer to a summer, Such revenues will therefore to reduce over- Steelman and Office Engineer Janice 1995, opening. Goodwin inspect completed trackway along all project costs. • The idea of running a dedicated track along a the 1-105 Freeway.)

7 RO MT A BOARD MEMBERS MOVES EDMUND D. EDELMAN JOHN FASANA Chair / Supervisor Councilmember A monthly publication Los Angeles County City of Duarte produced by the MTA. MARVIN L. HOLEN, Alt. PHYLLIS PAPEN, Alt. RICHARD ALATORRE GLORIA MOLINA Managing Editor Councilmember Supervisor City of Los Angeles Los Angeles County Wendy Taylor NATE HOLDEN, Alt. VIVIEN C. BONZO, Alt. Art Director MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH RICHARD RIORDAN Anne Roubideaux Supervisor Mayor Graphic Design Los Angeles County City of Los Angeles Terry McMahon NICK PATSAOURAS, Alt. ZEV YAROSLAVSKY, Alt. STAN SANDERS Photographers RAUL PEREZ Councilmember RUTH GALANTER, Alt. George Gray City of Huntington Park DEAN DUNPHY Wayne Salvatti TOM CLARK, Alt. Ex-Officio Member Deputy Director, Media Relations YVONNE BRATHWAITE BURKE California Secretary of Business Jim Smart Supervisor Transportation and Housing Los Angeles County JERRY B. BAXTER, Alt. MAS FUKAI, Alt. JAMES W. VAN LOBEN SELS, Alt. MEL WILSON JIM CRAGIN Councilmember HAL BERNSON, Alt. City of Gardena LARRY ZARIAN Vice-ChairlMayor HAL CROYTS, Alt. City of Glendale DEANE DANA JAN HEIDT, Alt. Supervisor eS1 Los Angeles County ell ROBERT J. ARTHUR, Alt. FRANKLIN E. WHITE MTA Chief Executive Officer Metro Moves is printed entirely on recycled paper.

("Working on the Railroad,"continued) when her restaurant was closed due to some 16 miles by foul- lanes of concrete free- ground settlement that occurred during way. The trackway's narrow configuration, Metro subway construction in the area. coupled with more than 30 freeway over- With Ms. Selena, (in photo, from left) are passes and ramps, created clearance, Joel Sandberg, Metro Red Line Segment 2 construction staging and access restrictions. project manager; Icimar Selena, age 4, and All this became more difficult once the free- Abdoul Sesay, MTA risk manager for rail way opened to traffic last year. • construction. The MTA has processed and paid a number MTA Issues Reimbursements of economic loss claims to businesses located to Hollywood Businesses along Hollywood Boulevard between Wilcox Berta Selena , owner of El Golfo de Fonseco, and Whitley avenues. The agency is also a Salvadorean restaurant, receives one of accepting claims for property damage that the first reimbursement checks issued by can be traced to ground settlement. Claims the MTA in early September to Hollywood may be filed at the MTA's Field Office, 6286 business owners. The check compensates Hollywood Blvd. C4-) Ms. Selena for loss of business revenues

FIRST CLASS U.S POSTAGE PAID INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING SERVICES METRO

METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY-MTA 818 West Seventh Street, Suite 1100 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213/623-1194

Jim 14alker P. 0. Box 5416 Glendale CA 91221-5416

8 SST-111 3/99