Hernandez Delays Vote on Rail Line

Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Hernandez on Wednesday postponed for 10 days a vote on his controversial proposal to block funding for the Los Angeles to Pasadena rail line.

A state law stripped the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of its responsibility for the construction of that light-rail line, instead creating a special five-member panel to oversee it.

But Hernandez, who serves on that panel, complained that it has failed to address potentially serious financial and other problems for the city. He offered a proposal asking his colleagues to oppose transferring about $250 million from the MTA to the new panel until city experts could address the light-rail effects in the city.

That vote was postponed Wednesday because Hernandez said he wanted to give the Los Angeles Pasadena Blue Line Construction Authority another chance to deal with the issues he has raised. He said he is concerned about the possibility that Los Angeles might be required to shoulder potential additional costs and that the city’s concerns about stations and stops have not been adequately addressed.

The 13.6-mile light-rail system is expected to begin at Union Station and proceed through most of Hernandez’s district, including Chinatown, Lincoln Heights and Highland Park.