Local News in Brief : Transit Peace Treaty Clears One Hurdle

The Southern California Rapid Transit District board gave preliminary approval Thursday to the outline of a possible peace treaty with its longstanding rival, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.

The plan, which will have to overcome considerable opposition within both agencies to win final approval, calls for a new supercommittee of the two transit boards to be empowered to resolve a series of running disputes. Decisions of the seven-member committee, which would include three officials from each agency and a seventh member picked by both, would be binding on the two agencies.

The plan, which was drafted by representatives of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and Supervisor Deane Dana, also proposes compromises that would allow the RTD to continue designing and building the Metro Rail subway and to receive millions of dollars in bus system funds that the commission is withholding. In return, the RTD would agree to allow a commission-backed plan to form a new bus system in the San Gabriel Valley, using lower-cost private-bus companies.

The commission could consider the plan as early as next week.