SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT

`COINED' EXPRESSIONS—These brass RTD fare tokens are examples ofwhat will be ayailable to all RTD riders and coin collectors of discriminating tastes.Illustration shows front (I) and back sides of Olympic token depicting the gym-nastics events.

Conaing Soon:Olympic Fare Tokens

RTD Olympic fare tokens will be available soon at RIO Customer Ser-vice Centers and other outlets where RIO monthly passes are sold. Thebrass coins, about the size of a half dollar, are being minted in 24 designsdepicting all the Olympic sporting events. On the reverse side of eachcoin, the SCRTD name will be engraved under the official Olympic "Starsin Motion."

Fach token will be worth a 50( RIO base fare. Tokens will be sold for50c, each and in rolls of 10 for $5. Commemorative sets of all 24 distinc-tive tokens, packaged in a collector's gift box, will go on sale early nextyear at RTD Customer Service Centers and selected retail storesthroughout Southern California. Prices will vary at the retail stores.

Under an agreement between the Los Angeles Olympic OrganizingCommittee and Marketcom, Inc. of St. Louis (an international sports mer-chandiser), RTD has exclusive rights to market these first official bus to-kens in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, SantaBarbara and San Diego counties.

RIO Board President Mike Lewis applauded LA000 for structuringthis innovative financial plan with RTD and Marketcom, which is expectedto generate at least $1.7 million in net earnings to help pay for additionalbus service during the Olympic Games. RTD has established a separatebudget of $13.36 million to provide premium Olympic bus service withthe fares being the primary source of revenue, supplemented by salesof official Olympic bus tokens.

RIO is preparing a separate fleet of 475 buses that will provide directservice to the major events (venues) during the XXIII Olympiad from July28 to August 12.

RTD

MetroNews

Bulletin Vol 1 No 5 • December 1983

Board Adopts EIR,Metro Rail ProjectT he RIO Board of Directors recently

steered the Metro Rail subway projectcloser toward construction when it cer-

tified the final Environmental Impact Report(El R). The Board action certified that the rail rapidtransit system is in compliance with the CaliforniaEnvironmental Quality Act and the CaliforniaPublic Resources Code.

"Certification of the EIR will permit the Districtto proceed, using state monies, with the pur-chase of a 45-acre site in downtown Los Angelesfor the rau l system's central yard and mainte-nance shop," said Board President MichaelLewis.

State and local monies have been made avail-able to acquire the property located south of theSanta Ana Freeway along the Los Angeles Riverbetween Sixth St. and Santa Fe Ave. "This is thesite where we will begin Metro Rail construction,scheduled for June 1984," Lewis noted.

The RTD Directors also adopted the State-ment of Findings concerning the impacts theMetro Rail Project will have on the environment,a Statement of Overriding Considerations, anda Notice of Determination on the El R for filingwith the State Secretary of Resources and theLos Angeles County Clerk.

The state-mandated EIR and attendant docu-ments not only describe the measures recom-mended to mitigate short- and long-term ad-verse impacts resulting from project construc-tion, but they also demonstrate the substantialbenefits of Metro Rail in terms of improved mobil-ity, reduced noise and air pollution, enhancedeconomic activity and public convenience.

The federal counterpart to the EIR, the En-vironmental Impact Statement, has been sub-mitted to the Urban Mass Transportation Ad-ministration in Washington, D.C., for review andapproval. The RIO Board is expected to certifythe document at a public hearing before the endof the year. (Persons interested in obtaining fur-ther information on this hearing may contact theRIO Community Relations Department at213/972-6456.)

Once the environmental process for the pro-ject is completed, the RIO will file a grant ap-plication to UMTA for federal construction fundsto build the $3.4-billion rail transit line. When thegrant is approved and a "letter of intent" isissued by UMTA, construction on the first phaseof the project will begin.

- --

A summary of developments andprogress of RTD programs and services.

Metro News Bulletin December 1983

NORTH CENTRAL / EAST L.A. SEC TOR DO

CAROL TAYLORSector Representative (213) 972-6644

ON TOUR—Lydia Lopez of the United Neighborhood Organization(UNO) leads RTD officials on inspection tour of East Los Angeles toevaluate bus service currently being provided. Part of the tour delega-tion included (from 2nd, 0 RTD General Manager John A. Dyer, RTDBoard President Michael Lewis, news reporter Robert Knowles, andBoard Member John F. Day. "I look forward to continuing acooperative working relationship with UNO and the entire East LosAngeles community in providing efficient transit service that meets thecommunity's needs," stated Dyer.

❑ Got a concern about bus service? Want to talk face-to-facewith someone about Metro Rail or any other RTD program?Come see Carol Taylor, who is available on the 10th of eachmonth from 9:30 AM to noon at the district office of CouncilmanArt Snyder, 4927 Huntington Dr., North. She wants to knowyour concerns, answer your questions and find solutions to yourproblems to ensure that RTD meets the needs of this growingcommunity. So the next time you're in the area, stop by, if for noother reason, to say hello. RTD thanks Councilman Snyder forthe use of his field office and his continuing support of RTDprograms.

❑ The RTD Board of Directors recently authorized theestablishment of a new East Los Angeles Customer ServiceCenter at the Plaza Colonial, located at Whittier and Ford Blvds.When open early next year, thousands of local RTD riders willhave a convenient location from which to purchase bus passesand obtain information, schedules and literature about RTD ser-vices. Watch for the grand opening date in future issues of RTDMetro News Bulletin.

❑ Anyone interested in the quality and future developmentof public transportation in this transit corridor is invited to join thenewly created RTD Community Input Committees in your area.For further information, contact Carol Taylor at the number listedabove.

CLARENCE BROWNSector Representative (213) 972-6517

❑ The RTD Citizens Input Committee, composed of rep-resentatives of downtown businesses, and professional/service organizations, plans to convene its first meeting in mid-December. The agenda includes presentations on RTD pro-grams and services and discussions on transit issues relativeto the Los Angeles Central Business District.

❑ Two RTD-sponsored "Stay On the Right Track" (SORT)public meetings were held downtown to inform the public ofimportant issues relative to the Metro Rail Project's develop-ment. Such issues included benefit assessment districts, jointdevelopment policies, status of the environmental impactreview process and construction implementation scheduling.

7

CHERYL BROWNESector Representative (213) 972-3413

❑ Environmental impact mitigation measures for the Cren-shaw Metro Rail station are being finalized by RTD and the Cityof Los Angeles Departments of Planning and Transportation.Design alternatives will be presented to the community in mid-December.

JEFF ALPERTSector Representative (213) 972-3520

❑ RTD and Parklabrea Associates are working out defini-tive joint development agreements for the Wilshire/FairfaxMetro Rail station. Among other benefits totaling some $30million in construction cost savings, the Parklabrea proposaloffers RTD free use of property on the northeast corner ofWilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. to accommodate the subwaystation and adjoining tunnel segments. The station is beingmoved westward from the vicinity of the La Brea Tarpits atWilshire and Curson Ave.

rWILBUR C. MILLER, JR.Sector Representative (213) 972-3524

❑ Local supporters and other residents attended a series ofRTD "Stay On the Right Track" (SORT) public meetings, anddiscussed critical issues relative to the financing of Metro Rail'sconstruction. Among these issues were benefit assessment andjoint development legislation (both of which have become statelaw), the environmental Impact review process and other mat-ter) specifically relevant to the Hollywood Sector.

OPERATION

TEAMWORK

Metro News Bulletin

3

December 1983

etfiJ r IkZ2&)

Accessible Transportation Committee FormedE In a move to provide further review and attention to RTD's

service to wheelchair patrons and other disabled persons, theRIO Board of Directors has formed a new ad hoc committee anaccessible transportation. Five RTD directors will serve on thecommittee, headed by Director John F.Day. They will help draft new policyguidelines governing the District's ac-cessible transportation program for thedisabled. "This action reaffirms the Dis-trict's commitment to serve all personswho depend upon public transporta-tion, whether they are able-bodied or inwheelchairs," noted Day.

Lines lOodified to Serve Transit Center3 Route changes were made an nine RTD bus lines recently

when RIO opened its new West Los Angeles Transit Center.Located beneath the Santa Monica Freeway an a triangularacre bounded by Fairfax Ave., Washington Blvd., and Apple St.,the center will serve as a central transfer point for 13 RTD localand express bus lines, and Line 1 (Washington Blvd.), operatedby Culver City Municipal Bus Lines. Service on the followingRTD lines have been modified: local 105 and express 430,431,434, 436, 437, 438, 439 and 576. For a free brochure detailingthese service changes, write RTD, Los Angeles 90001.

SOUTH CENTRALJHARBOR AREA SEC TOR

OTTIS HENDRICKSSector Representative (213) 972-6099

3 The "0" Team has come to In-glewood. RTD's highly recognizedOperation Teamwork crime andvandalism prevention program waslaunched at Inglewood High SchoolNovember 21. Some 3,000 studentsare involved in the program, whichencourages their participation in thefight against crime and vandalism on their campus,neighborhoods and on RIO buses. "Our principal aim is to helpthe students realize that crime prevention takes teamwork; it'severybody's business," notes Ottis Hendricks, the RIO coor-dinator of the program. Now in its third year, Operation Team-work has been successfully implemented in East Los Angelesand Hyde Park. This year, it is being coordinated through theI nglewood Unified School District, through which several thou-sand students will participate in RIO crime prevention posterand essay contests, and career counseling seminars. The

Personnel Filen Edward J. Nash, former

Director of Operations for allU.S. military air transportation,has been appointed RTD'snew Director of Transporta-tion. He is responsible formanaging RTD's transporta- Nash Cordtion network, including 13 op-erating divisions, central radio dispatch center, and Stops andZones Department.

Henry W. Cord, former Director of the Joint DevelopmentProgram at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authori-ty, has been named Director of Real Estate and Developmentat RIO. He is handling all real estate activities, including MetroRail station-area development.

President Lewis CiteciRTD Board President Michael Lewis has been cited for

outstanding public service by the federal Urban Mass Transpor-tation Administration (UMTA). He was among 27 recipients ofthe 1983 UMTA Outstanding Public Service Awards, whichrecognize achievements in advancing the interest of publictransportation, as well as outstanding initiative, leadership andservice to the transit industry.

bottom line objective, in Hendricks' words, is to "heighten thestudents' awareness of good citizenship and socialresponsibility."

Citizens of Lynwood, Compton and Carson who are in-terested in shaping the quality of future of public transportationin their cities have joined two RTD Community Advisory Com-mittees. The 12-member Lynwood/Compton committee recent-ly met at Wilson Park in Compton to get acquainted with theircolleagues and discuss their goals and objectives. The Carsoncommittee met last month also, and heard presentations anRIO programs and an update an the Metro Rail Project. Thetwo committees will be meeting monthly to discuss transit issuesand services. Sister committees in other areas of the sector arenow being formed and will be in progress by the first of the newyear. Persons in the Harbor City, San Pedro, Wilmington andCulver City areas who are interested in joining these RIO com-mittees may contact Ottis Hendricks.

Metro News Bulletin

4

December 1983

For further information, contact the RTD representativelisted under the appropriate community sector.

MANNY HERNANDEZSector Representative (213) 972 -6637

❑ RTD has intensified its efforts to get the Metro Rail story toldin all segments of the Valley. Community Relations represen-tatives have made contact with numerous local business, pro-fessional and service organizations. Among them are the UnitedChambers of Commerce, the Valley Industry and CommerceAssn., the Valleywide Transportation Committee, and theMayor's San Fernando Valley Transportation Advisory Commit-tee. In addition, Metro Rail information booths and displays havebeen set up at Laurel Plaza, Topanga Mail and the BurbankFarmers' Market, where hundreds of local consumers inquiredabout the rail project and RTD services in general.

yileVE

SANDRA LEARMANSector Representat've (213) 972 -6654

❑ What is your city doing with its share of Proposition A taxdollars? The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has invested part ofits share of the transit revenues in an experimental intracom-munity bus system called RPV Transit. The system utilizes twovans and a taxicab on a demand/response or subscriptionbasis. This small system will serve as a feeder service to RTD'sregional system on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, interfacing withlines 225/226, 444, and 448 at the Peninsula Center atHawthorne Blvd. and Silver Spur Road. Prop. A is the transitmeasure approved by the voters of Los Angeles County in 1980that increased the state sales tax by one-half percent. Twenty-five percent of the $225 million generated annually by the taxare returned to cities within the county for public transportationim provements.

❑ RTD has joined residents in the Venice area to address thevarious environmental impact concerns of the local communi-ty surrounding bus Division 6. A task force has been temporarilyestablished to evaluate the noise levels of buses that emanatefrom that division, among other issues. Their input and recom-mendations will be discussed with RTD staff and ultimately withthe RTD Board of Directors for final decisions. Division 6 pro-vides bus service for the South Bay, West Los Angeles, Bever-ly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Marina del Rey and Venice.

MARY LOU ECHTERNACHSector Representative (213) 972 - 6640

• RTD provided information, maps and literature on bus ser-vices at the recent Senior Citizen Conference at Dean MericleSenior Center in the City of Commerce. Sponsored by Assem-blywoman Gloria Molina (D-56th District), the conference pro-vided seniors an opportunity to obtain first-hand information ontransit programs especially designed for them.

WANDA FLAGGSector Representative (213) 972-3473

JOLLY KICKOFF—At entrance of double-decked bus for token pro-gram kickoff are (I-r)RTD Board President Michael Lewis, Santa Claus,Tracy Wright (Miss Alhambra), and Mayor Mary Louise Bunker.

❑ The city and business community of Alhambra joined in arousing kickoff November 25 for their "Shop by Bus—Ride onUs" RTD bus token program. Alhambra shoppers now receivea free 50 0 RTD token for every $10 purchase made at par-ticipating local stores. Proven highly successful in other Valleycommunities, the token program serves as an incentive forshoppers to patronize local merchants and at the same time en-courages bus ridership. Subsidized by a portion of Alhambra'sProposition A revenues, the bus token program is widely sup-ported by the local chambers of commerce and elected officials.Among dignitaries present at the inaugural ceremonies were:Mayor Mary Louise Bunker, Councilmembers Parker Williams,Michael Blanco and Talmage Burke.

MORE TO COME—RTD BoardMember and La Puente CityCouncilman Charles Storing in-spects a prototype of the newNeoplan USA bus. RTD hasordered 415 of the new standard-size buses manufactured inLamar, Colo., the second largestnew bus order in RTD history.The 40-foot buses will replaceolder coachen to upgrade ser-vice and handle increased ser-vice needs during the 1984 Sum-mer Olympic Garnes. Deliveryhas begun and will continuethrough March 1984.

Metro News Bulletin

5

December 1983

PARADE & BOWLservice announced

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The use of local and special RTD buses will offer an easysolution to traffic snarls and parking problems for visitorsand residents who attend the Tournament of Roses

Parade, the Rose Bowl game and the float display on January 2.RTD will provide added service on 13 lines into Pasadena to

transport spectators to the events on time. The schedules in-clude service from the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys,Long Beach, Glendale, Hollywood and Central and East LosAngeles. A special park 'n' ride shuttle service will also transportfans from the parade route to the Rose Bowl with convenientreturn service.

Fares on regular local RTD lines into Pasadena will be the cur-rent 50e. January RTD monthly passes will be honored. Specialservice via lines 150 and 420 (San Fernando Valley Special Ex-press) will be $2.05 one way and the Rose Bowl Express Ser-vice via Line 483 will be $2 one way.

Special shuttle service to the Rose Bowl will begin immediate-ly alter the parade via Line 177 at Raymond Ave. and ColoradoBlvd., arriving every 4 to 6 minutes. Return service will be pro-vided alter the game every 3 to 5 minutes.

Free parking will be available to Rose Bowl spectators whouse the RTD Line 177 shuttle service (50e one-way fare) at:

n Ralph M. Parsons parking lot at 100 W. Walnut St. betweenFair Oaks and Pasadena Aves.

n Los Angeles County parking structure, southeast corner ofWalnut St. and Marengo Ave. (please enter on Pomona St.).

BI City parking structure on Arroyo Parkway between Unionand Holly Sts.Plaza Pasadena parking structure on Green St. between Ar-royo Parkway and Marengo Ave.

For further convenience, round-trip bus tokens will be soldby RTD uniformed personnel at the northbound bus stop at Col-orado Blvd. and Raymond Ave. and at the westbound bus stopat Walnut St. and Fair Oaks Ave. One-way tokens will be sold atthe Rose Bowl for patrons who do not purchase tokens for around-trip. While all RTD lines serving the Tournament of RosesParade are designed with convenience in mind, RTD recom-mends that riders schedule their arrival a half-hour early for thestart of the parade (8:20 AM) and the game (2:00 PM).

RTD has published a New Year's Day Holiday Servicebrochure, featuring a map (like the one below) and schedulesof service. These are available aboard RTD buses, at RTD passoutlets or by writing RTD, Los Angeles, 90001.

Metro News Bulletin 6 December 1983

RTD, L.A. to encourageminority participation

TD and the Mayor's Office of Small Business Assistancein Los Angeles have agreed to jointly develop programs

at encouraging firms owned and operated byminorities and women to bid for RTD contracts, including thosefor the Metro Rail subway project.

A memorandum of understanding recently signed by MayorTom Bradley and RTD General Manager John Dyer states thatthe City will help RTD identify minority Disadvantaged BusinessEnterprises (DBE's) and VVomen Business Enterprises (VVBE's)that are qualified to bid for RTD contracts and subcontracts.

Mayor Bradley also pledged that the city will direct such firmsneeding loans, management and business technical assistanceto the Los Angeles district office of the U.S. Small Business Ad-ministration and to the Minority Business Development Agen-cy. Those DBE's and WBE's not qualified for RTD contracts willbe referred to opportunities in the private sector.

In turn, RTD will work closely with the city in sharing informa-tion about RTD contracts, particularly with the Metro Rail Projectwhere the District has set a goal of 17% participation by minoritybusinesses and 3% by firms owned and operated by womenduring the current engineering phase.

Similar goals are expected to be announced next year for theconstruction phase of Metro Rail.

"The RIO and the city of Los Angeles share a mutual goal ofensuring that disadvantaged and women-owned businessesget the maximum opportunity to participate in all types of con-tracting activities," said Marvin Williams, RTD's AssistantGeneral Manager for Equal Opportunity.

"The District will cooperate fully to see that during construc-tion of the Metro Rail Project, this goal is achieved."

AGREEMENT—Mayor Tom Bradley (I) and Maryin Williams, RTDAssistant General Manager for Equal Opportunity, discuss agreementbetween the City of Los Angeles and RTD forjoint development of pro-grams aimed at encouraging minority- and women-owned firms to bidfor RTD contracts.

Tourist passes discontinuedRIO will discontinue sales of its Tourist Pass effective

December 31, 1983. The Board of Directors canceled the pro-gram because Tourist Pass sales have declined sharply sinceJuly 1982 when the RIO base fare was reduced from 85', to 50('under the local Proposition A bus fare subsidy program.

But tourists can still enjoy bargain bus travel by paying RTD'slow cash fares. RIO publishes a "Self-Guided Tours" brochurethat shows budget-minded tourists how to travel by bus todozens of Southland entertainment and cultural attractionsthroughout the year. For a free copy, write RIO, Los Angeles90001.

49. RTD

MetroNews

Bulletin

RTD BOARD OF DIRECTORSMichael W. LewisPresident

Ruth E. RichterVice PresidentJohn F. DayJan HallNate HoldenMarvin L. HolenNikolas PatsaourasJay PriceCharles H. StoringGordana SwansonGeorge Takei

John A. DyerGeneral ManagerRobert J. MurrayAssistant General ManagerTransit Systems DevelopmentLou CollierCommunity Relations Manager

ADD PUNCHTO YOUR LUNCH!

Through the RTD Speaker's BureauNeed a dynamic speaker for your organiza-

tion's next luncheon? Our community relationsstaff is available to make provocative presenta-tions on a wide range of transit topics, includingRTD services and programs, rau l transit plan-ning, transit careers and the role of publictransportation. Presentations can consist ofspeeches, graphics, slides, video tapes and/orour award-winning film on Metro Rail, entitledStarting Under. Our Speaker's Bureau is the bestway to add punch to your lunch. For details, con-tact Albert Reyes, Community Relations Coor-dinator, at (213) 972-6622.

METRO NEWS BULLETIN ispublished by the Southern Califor-nia Rapid Transit District to informthe greater Los Angeles commu-nity of progress and developmentsof the RTD Metro Rail Project andother District operations.

Submit all inquiries to:RTD Community Relations

425 S. Main St.Los Angeles, CA 90013Phone: (213) 972-6456

CLARENCE BROWNEditor