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Southern California Transit Advocates is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, development and improvement of public transportation in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

John Ulloth's draft proposal for a So.CA.TA statement on creating a Valley transit agency

Mr. Ulloth's proposal, also presented to the San Fernando Valley Greens, was discussed but not adopted by So.CA.TA.

Proposal: That Southern California Transit Advocates should immediately take a position on the 10/29/97 proposal by Bernson & 6 other City Council Members to create a separate Valley transit agency (I'm labelling "ValTrans" here), modeled after Foothill Transit.

Timeline: We may have 2 weeks leeway, but the sooner the better, while the press is still interested. Continued M.T.A. incompetence and Valley Secession efforts for the year 2000 will eventually bring this to the fore agaln.

Actions could take the form of:

  • Minimal: Writing a position paper during the next Land Use committee meeting for intemal/ internet/local newspaper consumption
  • Midrange: Hold a small press conference (at a Valley Bus Stop, or at the 101-405 during rushhour) to announce So.CA.T.A.'s position
  • Maximal: Hold a Big Press Conference on a select Valley transit site, backed by "What Would It Look Like?" visuals; to present So.CA.T.A.'s Land Use Committee vision of ValTrans service and facilities (Chandler Line rebuild/ Multimodal ValTrans terminal); Possibly invite like-minded City Council members or local groups to speak about the need for the agency.
Proposed Position: Though Southern Califomia Transit Advocates (So.CA.T.A.) adamantly opposes the Balkanization of transit services, including the proliferation of transit providers in metropolitan Los Angeles, So.CA.T.A. recognizes issues like inadequate Valley transit service has driven residents of the San Femando Valley to seek independence from the City of Los Angeles and M.T.A.

Today, So.CA.T.A. offers its street-smarts and planning experience to Valley transit planners calling for:
  1. An immediate temmination of the Red Line subway (and all other subways) at the North Hollywood Chandler Line Station, relieving M.T.A. funds for non-subway uses.
  2. Implementation of a general grid system of buses running across the Valley on 15-20 minute headways until 1 :OOa.m; Ventura Boulevard, 101, and 405 freeway service should run 24 hours per day.
  3. Busses may be smaller (airporter size) should fuel, maintainance, & life cycle cost savings be realized.
  4. ValTrans employees shall live in the Valley, and be paid a decent living wage.
  5. The Chandler alignment shall be restored for heavy rail use on the ground, employing inner city labor. MetroLink, ValTrans-owned "Alternate Rail Technology" (such as Seimen's Regio Sprinter) or both should operate on it. The line shall form a complete loop from Media Center/ Burbank to Warner Center/ Rocketdyne to Chatsworth Multimodal, retuming on Amtrak's "Coast Route". All rail stops to be met by busses, Redevelopment shall enhance route's utility.
  6. Restoration of Light Rail service on "Red Car" Rights-of-Way in Sepulveda Boulevard, Van Nuys Boulevard, and Sherman Boulevard should be strongly considered.