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Uncertainty about federal funding for the Metro Rail subway project prompted a county transportation panel Friday to urge study of an eastward extension of the proposed San Fernando Valley
trolley line to Universal City. The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission’s rapid transit committee voted to recommend that consultants studying the 14.3-mile, Canoga Park-to-North
Hollywood line also consider a 2.3-mile extension to Universal City. In recommending the expanded study, the commission staff noted that a funding dispute with the Reagan Administration
might further delay Metro Rail. A staff memo to the committee said the Valley trolley link would be “more viable as an interim line by accessing two major activity centers, Warner Center and
Universal City.” A line serving both areas “will attract more riders” and “could be a stand-alone project” if Metro Rail is not built, the staff said. Approval Seen Wednesday The full
commission is expected to approve the recommendation on Wednesday, which would add about $35,000 to the $300,000 study contract with Bechtel National Corp., according to Erica Goebel,
communications manager for the commission. Bechtel engineers are doing cost and engineering analyses of alternative alignments for the trolley line, now proposed to end at the planned Metro
Rail terminus at Lankershim and Chandler boulevards. For most of its length, the trolley would operate on a Southern Pacific right of way the commission is negotiating to acquire. But
Bechtel is studying several alternative routes to serve Warner Center at the western end and is studying Burbank Boulevard and the line down Chandler as possible eastern routes. The Valley
trolley was proposed as part of a countywide rail transit system with Metro Rail as its hub. The transit system was endorsed by voters in 1980 through passage of a county sales tax to
finance transportation improvements. Faces Roadblocks However, the 18.6-mile Metro Rail project has faced roadblocks, including continuing efforts by the Reagan Administration to curtail
federal financing of the $3.3-billion project. Goebel said the commission has told Burbank officials that an extension to that city might improve the line but that Burbank should pay for
initial study of the idea. Goebel said the commission is reluctant to pay for the study with sales-tax proceeds because the rail map accompanying the ballot showed the Valley line ending in
North Hollywood. MORE TO READ