Guide to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission Records
Original processing by library staff. Re-processed by Patrick A. Stawski in 2006.
Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library
© 2006
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
One Gateway Plaza
15th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Phone: (213) 922-4859
Fax: (213) 922-7955
Email: library@metro.net
URL: http://www.metro.net/library
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission Records
Collection number: 06-DPGTL
Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and ArchivesLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles, California
- Processed by:
- Original processing by library staff. Re-processed by Patrick A. Stawski in 2006.
- Date Completed:
- July, 2006
- Encoded by:
- Patrick A. Stawski
© 2006 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. All rights reserved.
Title: Los Angeles County Transportation Commission records
Dates: 1976-1993
Collection number: 06-DPGTL
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Collection Size:
6 boxes
(3 linear feet)
Repository:
Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archives.
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Abstract: This collection documents the business activities of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) from 1977 to
1993. Especially well documented are the agency's public relations efforts via the many publications (both internal and external)
it issued. Also of interest is the documentation on the LACTC and SCRTD merger found in the Projects series. Most of the
material is in paper format, although meeting minutes are also available digitally. Some documentary photos are also included.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Please contact the Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archives for information on collection access and restrictions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library. Permission for reproduction
or publication is given on behalf of the Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library as the owner of the physical items. The
researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials
from the Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library collections.
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission records, 06-DPGTL. Dorothy Payton Grey Transportation Library.
The material was produced by the LACTC and passed into the library and archive when the LACTC and SCRTD merged to become the
LACMTA in 1993.
The LACTC records were originally produced by the LACTC offices themselves. After the LACTC merged with the SCRTD in 1993
to form the LACMTA, the records passed into the custody of this new agency.
Biography / Administrative History
As traffic and congestion continued to worsen in 1970's Southern California, civic leaders realized that a new approach to
regional transportation planning was required. The last two public transit agencies, the LAMTA and its successor, the SCRTD,
were not legally equipped to deal with the fractious political landscape that characterized the Southern California region,
nor were they authorized to develop the economic or political clout needed to address region-wide transportation issues.
In an attempt to remedy the agencies' shortcomings, in 1976 the state legislature enacted AB1246, the County Transportation
Commissions Act, by Assemblyman Walter Ingalls. AB1246 established transportation commissions in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside
and San Bernardino counties and charged these commissions with providing efficient oversight of public transit, coordinating
between transit providers, and developing a highway policy.
In order to make the agency an effective and potent player in the transportation arena, AB1246 gave the LACTC approval power
over the plans and funding of all the transportation agencies in its region. In addition, the most important and powerful
movers-and-shakers in Southern California were given important representation on the LACTC board, further amplifying its power.
The LACTC board consisted of the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, the five Los Angeles County Supervisors, the Mayor of Long
Beach, two city council members from other cities in Los Angeles County and one additional appointee of the Mayor of Los Angeles.
The LACTC achieved many successes. It put much effort into public accountability and developing community support through
communications and community relations. As a result the LACTC gained voter approval for two countywide half-cent sales tax
increases, Proposition A in 1980 and Proposition C in 1990, to support regional transportation improvements, including a countywide
rail transit program. Other achievements were the construction and completion of the Metro Blue Line, Metro Green Line through
a specially created subsidiary, the Rail Construction Corporation (RCC). The LACTC also took over the construction of the
Metro Red Line from the SCRTD.
LACTC's assumption of the Metro Red Line was indicative of its stormy relationship with the SCRTD. "Issues between the two
agencies came to a head in 1988 with an 'Eight-Point Plan' adopted by both boards. Among the elements of the plan were provisions
for LACTC to release $140 million in funding for SCRTD operations if SCRTD agreed to move responsibility for the Metro Rail
subway construction project to LACTC's newly formed Rail Construction Corporation, and also drop opposition to the formation
of the Foothill Transit zone, which was carved out of SCRTD's service area in the San Gabriel Valley".
The battle over the "Eight-Point Plan" made it pointedly clear that an unhealthy rivalry had developed between the two agencies,
a rivalry which would have to be overcome in order for rational and efficient mass transit planning and operations to move
forward in Southern California. A plan eventually crystallized that entailed merging the LACTC and the SCRTD. "...Citing
overlapping administrative functions and achievable cost savings that could be redirected toward additional transportation
improvements for the region, the legislature passed AB152 (Katz) merging the Los Angeles County's largest transportation operator
with the primary planning, funding and construction agency". This new agency was the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority
(LACMTA), which went into official operation on April 1, 1993.
Note
List of Sources
- Barrett, Matthew, Introduction to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2001 (available on LACMTA intranet).
- Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library, Los Angeles Transit History, available at http://www.mta.net/about_us/library/transit_history.htm , (accessed July 17, 2006).
Note
List of Abbreviations
- LACMTA - Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- LACTC - Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
- LAMTA - Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
- PUC - (California) Public Utilities Commission
- RCC - Rail Construction Corporation
- SCRTD - Southern California Rapid Transit District
Scope and Content of Collection
The material in this collection consists mainly of the LACTC's publications (newletters, press releases, bulletins). There
are also numerous studies and reports on transit projects in the Los Angeles area. An almost complete set of board meeting
minutes is an invaluable resource for researchers, as well. Please see series level descriptions for further details.
The collection has been arranged into seven series, based on department and function. Note that Series #2: Photos, and Series
#6: Communications, Community Relations were created by the same department. Also, a set of the legislative history of the
County Transportation Commission Act provided to (but not ceated by) LACTC legal counsel was arranged as its own series. Please
see individual series level descriptions for further details.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Neely, Sharon
Perdon, Albert
Peterson, Neil
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
Rail Construction Corporation
Local Transit - California - Los Angeles County - Archival Resources
Transportation - California - Los Angeles County - Archival Resources
Local Transit - Design and construction - California - Los Angeles county
Local Transit - Government marketing - California - Los Angeles County
Local Transit - Community relations - California - Los Angeles County
Local Transit - Legislative history - California - Los Angeles County
- California State Archives, Public Utilities Commission Records
- Jackie Bacharach Office Files, 02-DPGTL. Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library.
- Southern California Rapid Transit District Collection. Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library.
Collection Contents
Series #1: Reference 1977-1993
Creator:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series was created by the Archive for user reference. Contains copies of articles providing historical information about
LACTC. The material is not necessarily created by LACTC.
All material is one folder.
Series #2: Photos 1989-1993
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Physical Description: 2 folders, 1 album
Series Scope and Content Summary
There are two sets of photos in this series. One set contains publicity photos taken at LACTC events. They are all black
and white glossy, 7" X 5". The second set consists of a collection of employee photos amassed by LACTC Executive Director,
Neil Peterson. Peterson used the photo collection to familiarize himself with LACTC staff. The employee photo albums run
from 1990 to 1993.
Event photos are arranged in two folders. Employee photos are contained in a separate binder. Employee photos are arranged
alphabetically by employee surname.
Series #3: General Operations 1977-1992
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains material related to the general business operations of the LACTC. It includes, for example, administrative
codes, organization charts, and even a seating chart.
Items are individual folders, arranged by date. A complete container list is available at the archive.
Series #4: Projects 1977-1991
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains material documenting specific projects carried out by the LACTC's Transportation Programs and Analysis
Division. The division was arranged into four sections: Transit, Highways/TSM, Local Assistance, and Fiscal Analysis.
Projects concern construction, service, or administration. Of particular interest are the 1987-1988 transit restructuring
files of Albert Perdon, Assistant to the General Manager.
Items are in individual folders, arranged by date. A complete container list is available at the archive.
Series #5: Legislative History 1984
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Physical Description: 1 box
Series Scope and Content Summary
In August of 1984 a company called Legislative Intent Service provided Richards, Watson, Dreyfuss & Gershon (LACTC Legal Counsel)
copies of the legislative history up to that point of Public Utilities Code Sections 130000, "The County Transportation Commission
Act".
The legislative history is contained in 4 folders, arranged chronologically. The cover letter from Legal Intent Service is
included in the first folder and provides a table of contents for the series.
Series #6: Communications, Community Relations 1977-1992
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Physical Description: 3 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
The LACTC's Government and Public Affairs Division was organized into three departments: Marketing/Communications, Community
Relations, and Government Relations. One of the main functions assumed by this division was fostering and nourishing relationships
with the public and community, and thereby gaining public support for LACTC projects. One community outreach tactic was the
dissemination of information through various channels. This series contains many of the printed materials published by the
LACTC Marketing/Communications Department. It also contains internal publications for employees.
Items are contained in three boxes, arranged alphabetically within each box. A complete container list is available at the
archive.
Series #7: Board Meeting Minutes 1977-1993
Creator:
Los Angeles County Transportation Commission
Physical Description: approx. 84 .pdf files
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains detailed transcriptions of the proceedings at the LACTC's Board of Directors monthly meetings. Meetings
were held at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles. Transcription was the responsibility
of the board secretary. Meeting minutes were made available to the public under the auspices of California's Brown Act, which
governs access to meetings held by local public bodies.
Naming convention for files: LACTC [date of meeting].pdf
The complete set of meeting minutes are digitized. The .pdf files are available for searching and viewing via a google search
interface. The series resides on the LACMTA's intranet, which is accessible to the public at the Dorothy Peyton Gray Library
and Historical Archives. Please contact the library and archive for further information on access.