BURBANK : Public Hearings on Rail Project Planned

The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission has begun a 45-day public comments period to obtain reactions to an environmental report on a light-rail line that would connect Burbank, Glendale and downtown Los Angeles.

During the 45 days, which began Thursday, the Transportation Commission staff will hold three public hearings, one each in Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles.

The first public hearing will be at 6 p.m. July 15 at Glendale’s Environmental Management Center, 780 Flower St. A July 23 meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Burbank Hilton, 2500 Hollywood Way. The July 28 meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Loreto Elementary School, 3408 Arroyo Seco Ave., Los Angeles.

The report is available at the County Transportation Commission offices, Burbank and Glendale city halls, and most public libraries in Burbank, Glendale and Los Angeles. Summaries of the report are available by calling (213) 244-6890.

The report says the 11.9-mile line would have some negative effects--such as the demolition of a historic building that was once used as the Los Angeles city jail--but would be “environmentally superior” to having no line at all.

The $445-million rail line, which would begin at Burbank Airport and run south through Glendale to Union Station, is one of six light-rail projects competing for funding priority under Los Angeles County’s 30-year Integrated Transportation Plan. If the commission gives the line priority over the other projects, it could be constructed before the end of the century.

The line would carry an average of at least 33,000 passengers a day and would travel from Burbank Airport to Union Station in about 23 minutes.