New Coalition to Rally for Light Rail in Valley

A new coalition backing a San Fernando Valley light-rail line will stage a rally Monday to kick off its campaign for a trolley linking the Valley’s east and west ends.

The gathering, at which representatives from business, homeowner and civic groups will speak on behalf of rail transit, will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys.

The rally by the Campaign for Valley Rail Transit comes three days before the first meeting of a 32-member committee formed by the Los Angeles City Council to determine what transit system, if any, the Valley needs.

The committee was created in the wake of a decision three months ago by the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission to halt all consideration of a light-rail system for the Valley.

Commissioners, who are building a countywide network of trolley lines, said they acted in response to mushrooming opposition to all five routes under consideration and what they viewed as insufficient support for light rail from the public.

Richard Smith, president of Encino Property Owners Assn. and a founder of the pro-light-rail coalition, predicted that the rally will show “that there are indeed many of us who want mass transportation to ease freeway and surface-street congestion.”