Finding Aid for SCRTD files on Eastern Cities Transit, 1944-1974
Finding aid prepared by Noah Geraci with assistance from Angel Diaz; January 2016.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives
© 2016
One Gateway Plaza
Mail Stop: 99-15-1
Los Angeles, CA 90012
library@metro.net
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Library and Archives
Title: Southern California Rapid Transit District files on Eastern Cities Transit
Creator:
Southern California Rapid Transit District
Identifier/Call Number: 55-DPGTL
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1944 - 1974
Date (bulk): 1971 - 1974
Language of Material: English
Abstract: This collection focuses on the 1971 acquisition of Eastern Cities Transit, a small private bus company serving East Los Angeles,
by the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD).
Physical Location: LACMTA Research Library and Archive
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact LACMTA Research Library and Archive to make an appointment.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the LACMTA Research Library and Archive. Permission for reproduction
or publication is given on behalf of the LACMTA Research Library and Archive 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
LACMTA Research Library and Archive collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], SCRTD files on Eastern Cities Transit, 55-DPGTL. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority Research Library and Archive.
Acquisition Information
Eastern Cities Lines and Blue & White Bus Lines files were transferred to the SCRTD archives by Wayne Reinecke in the Planning
Department on August 26, 1983, on the advice of Director of Schedules and Operations Planning Steve Parry. SCRTD was merged
into LACMTA in 1993.
Processing Information
Processed by Noah Geraci with assistance from Angel Diaz; January 2016.
Biographical / Historical
Eastern Cities Transit was a privately owned bus company operating local service in East Los Angeles from 1949-1971. It was
initially known as Belvedere Transit, Inc. SCRTD acquired the financially struggling company and assumed control of operations
on September 1, 1971. Lines operating at the time of the acquisition were Kern Ave. Line 140, Ford Blvd. Line 141, and City
Terrace Line 142, as well as school bus service.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of reports, memos, notes, and other records related to the 1971 acquisition of Eastern Cities Transit
by SCRTD and operations immediately following the acquisition, as well as SCRTD’s purchase and sale of Eastern Cities facilities
at 4534 Floral Drive in East Los Angeles.
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged in original order wherever possible. Many items in this collection were part of reports
or study files compiled by SCRTD so original order tends to be topical rather than chronological. Where original order was
unclear, material has been arranged chronologically and by function. The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Operations, 1971 - 1974
- Employees, 1964 - 1971
- Real Estate, 1944 - 1972
- Ephemera, circa 1960s - 1971
Related Materials
45-DPGTL, SCRTD files on Blue and White Bus Company of Watts
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Local transit -- Mergers -- East Los Angeles (Calif.)
Local Transit -- California -- Los Angeles County
Buses -- East Los Angeles (Calif.)
Industrial real estate -- East Los Angeles (Calif.)
Eastern Cities Transit
Series 1: Operations
1971-1974
Subseries 1.1: Acquisition
July - September 1971
box 1, folder 1
Acquisition of Eastern Cities Transit Inc.
July 30, 1971
Scope and Contents
Report and recommendation by SCRTD General Manager Jack Gilstrap regarding the acquisition of ECT. Attachments include the
proposed operating plan, purchase agreement, fare policies, and SCRTD Executive Staff meeting minutes (July 27, 1971).
box 1, folder 2
Acquisition of Eastern Cities Transit Inc.
July 30, 1971
Scope and Contents
Continuation of Gilstrap acquisition report attachments, including operations study and draft operating plans, capital grant
application submitted to Department of Transportation Urban Mass Transit Administration
box 1, folder 3
Local Passenger Tariff No. 25
August 17, 1971
Scope and Contents
Document issued by SCRTD Manager of Operations George Goehler outlining passenger fares, transfer privileges, and rules and
regulations for lines formerly operated by Eastern Cities (appended to Gilstrap acquisition report).
box 1, folder 4
Accounting and operations notes
1971
Scope and Contents
Revenue charts, memos and notes on schedules and financial matters (appendix to Gilstrap acquisition report).
box 1, folder 5
Takeover logistics
August - September 1971
Scope and Contents
Memos, meeting minutes of Operations Program Coordinating Committee, schedules and cost estimates related to operational coordination
of September 1, 1971 takeover of Eastern Cities by RTD.
Subseries 1.2: Origin and Destination Checks
November 9, 1971
box 1, folder 6
Origin and Destination Checks
November 9, 1971
Scope and Contents
Survey conducted by SCRTD employees documenting locations of boarding and exit by passengers on Eastern Cities lines. Divided
into four folders due to length. Survey forms are accompanied by route schedules and transfer tickets.
box 1, folder 7
Origin and Destination Checks
November 9, 1971
box 1, folder 8
Origin and Destination Checks
November 9, 1971
box 2, folder 1
Origin and Destination Checks
November 9, 1971
Subseries 1.3: Operations Study
December 30, 1971
box 2, folder 2
Operations Study
December 30, 1971
Scope and Contents
RTD staff study of Eastern Cities operations, including final reports, notes, timetables, maps, and copies of PUC applications
box 2, folder 3
Operations Study
December 30, 1971
Scope and Contents
RTD staff study of Eastern Cities operations, including final reports, notes, timetables, maps, and copies of Public Utilities
Commission applications.
Subseries 1.4: Schedule change
November 1971 - April 1972
box 2, folder 4
Schedule change documents
November 1971 - April 1972
Scope and Contents
Memos and notes related to changes in route schedules
Subseries 1.5: Eastern Cities Lines Current Study File
July 1973
box 2, folder 5
Eastern Cities Lines Current Study File
July 1973
Scope and Contents
File on Eastern Cities operations, including maps, notes, fare and revenue study, tables and graphs
box 2, folder 6
Eastern Cities Lines Current Study File
July 1973
Scope and Contents
File on Eastern Cities operations, including maps, notes, fare and revenue study, tables and graphs
Subseries 1.6: Beardsley report
January 9, 1974
box 2, folder 7
Beardsley report
January 9, 1974
Scope and Contents
Report by Howard Beardsley on current status of Blue and White Bus Lines and Eastern Cities Transit following acquisition.
Copy also in Blue and White collection.
Series 2: Employees
1964 - 1971
box 2, folder 8
General Employee Documents
1971 - 1974
Scope and Contents
Memos, union contract, employee lists
box 2, folder 9
Driver Testing Center reports
1964 - 1971
Scope and Contents
Reports of driver physical examinations and safety tests conducted by Driver Testing Center, 5801 E. Washington Blvd.
Conditions Governing Access
Contains protected health information. Access restricted to individuals seeking records of their own exams.
Series 3: Real Estate
1944 - 1972
Subseries 3.1: Early Property Records
1944 - 1950
box 3, folder 1
Early Property Records
1944 - 1950
Scope and Contents
Grant deeds and title insurance policies from property purchases made by Belvedere Transit, Inc.
Subseries 3.2: Appraisal, Purchase and Sale of 4534 Floral Drive
1971 - 1972
box 3, folder 2
David F. Culver
January 19, 1971
Scope and Contents
Appraisal report on 4534 Floral Drive property by David F. Culver
box 3, folder 3
General Appraisal Company
July 19, 1971
Scope and Contents
Appraisal report on 4534 Floral Drive property by General Appraisal Company
box 3, folder 4
Western Cities Appraisal Company
July 26, 1971
Scope and Contents
Appraisal report on 4534 Floral Drive property by Western Cities Appraisal Company
box 3, folder 5
1971 purchase of 4534 Floral Drive
January 1, 1971
Scope and Contents
Sale agreement, data sheets, property tax bills, title insurance receipt, and notes related to 1971 sale of 4534 Floral Drive
property from Eastern Cities to SCRTD.
box 3, folder 6
1972 sale of 4534 Floral Drive
March - August 1972
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, data sheets, bids, escrow agreement and notes regarding the August 1972 sale of 4534 Floral Drive to Saul
and Rose Cofsky of Los Angeles.
Series 4: Ephemera
circa 1960s - 1971
box 3, folder 7
Ephemera
circa 1960s - 1971
Scope and Contents
Map and timetable for New East Los Angeles-Commerce Bus Line operated by ECT, circa 1960s.
Route map flier paste-up and photocopy, circa 1960s. Shows lines 1, 2, 3 (Kern, Ford, City Terrace).
Photocopy: “RTD Absorbs Cities Transit,” Passenger Transport, page 2, 1971.