North Hollywood : City Council Hires Subway Consultant

Hoping to avoid the tunneling mishaps that have occurred in the past, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to hire an independent consultant to monitor subway tunneling between Hollywood and North Hollywood.

At the request of Councilman John Ferraro, the council voted to spend $40,000 to hire Gerald Lehmer and Associates to monitor the tunneling that has begun in the San Fernando Valley for the Metro Rail Red Line.

Similar tunneling work caused sinkholes and damage to homes and streets in Hollywood, prompting federal and local investigations into the subway contractors hired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Work is beginning on tunnels that will connect the Red Line in Hollywood to a planned station in Universal City and on to a station in North Hollywood.

Ferraro, who represents parts of North Hollywood, said he recommended that the consultant keep an eye on the work and advise the contractors and the city of any potential problems.

Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, who represents Hollywood, said the consultant was hired by the city previously to monitor tunneling in Hollywood--but only after problems began to arise there.

She supported Ferraro’s motion.

“Even though this does not affect my district anymore, thank God and hallelujah,” she said.

But Councilman Nate Holden, who heads the council’s Transportation Committee, said he believed the consultant has done nothing more than give the city false assurances and has not forced substantial changes in the way the tunneling work is being done.

“You just can’t keep paying this guy to make you feel good,” he said. “You will just keep throwing good money after bad.”