Valley Rail : Subway or Elevated Rail? MTA May Decide Today

After more than a decade of rancorous debate, a voter referendum, and decisions made and reversed, the San Fernando Valley rail project comes before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today for a crucial vote on where to locate the proposed mass transit line--down the Ventura Freeway or along Burbank and Chandler boulevards.

In 1990, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, a precursor to the MTA, adopted the Burbank-Chandler subway route. But a Valley advisory vote that same year showed widespread support for a monorail above the Ventura Freeway.

In December, 1992, the commission reversed itself and tapped the freeway as the preferred alignment--but then effectively voided that decision later by voting to complete studies on both routes.

Once regarded by far the most cost-effective option, the elevated railway’s financial edge has diminished considerably, to where only $19 million--less than 1% of the cost of either project--separates an aerial rail line from a mostly underground system.

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VENTURA FREEWAY ALIGNMENT

Advantages:

* High visibility along the freeway could encourage motorists to use mass transit.

* An elevated railway would be at least $19 million cheaper than a subway system; an at-grade railway in the freeway median would cost even less than that.

* The rail line could be extended west to Ventura County and north to connect with Metrolink stations.

* Elevated line, sometimes called a monorail, would have 15 stations, as opposed to 10 for a subway.

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Disadvantages:

* Passengers would have to change trains to the Metro Red Line subway to continue to Hollywood and Downtown.

* If the freeway collapses in an earthquake or other natural disaster, the rail line in the median would also be knocked out.

* Freeway congestion from construction could increase.

BURBANK-CHANDLER ALIGNMENT

Advantages:

* Passengers would have a seamless ride on the Metro Red Line from Canoga Park to Downtown.

* The route would serve more heavily populated areas, such as Pierce and Valley colleges and the Van Nuys government center.

* The alignment would provide a backup transportation corridor if the freeway were damaged in an earthquake or other natural disaster.

* MTA has already spent $159 million to acquire the right-of-way.

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Disadvantages:

* Tunneling can be problematic, as experience beneath Hollywood Boulevard shows.

* To cut costs, some stations may be open-air.

* Subway construction could incur large cost overruns, as has happened with the first two segments of Red Line construction through Downtown and Hollywood.

Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Researched by HENRY CHU / Los Angeles Times