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Southern California Rapid Transit District

Volume 6, Number 4

April 1979

RTD unveils '80 sector improvement,•seeks feedback from District personnel

"How can we produce a morecohesive system, allowing thegreatest number of people totravel in the most convenient andquickest way possible?"

That question has been thedriving force behind the RapidTransit District's five-year systemimprovement program. Thesixth—and certainly the mostambitious—sector improvement,the 1980 Sector ImprovementProgram, was unveiled to Districtpersonnel and the public lastmonth after more than two yearsof extensive analysis by Districtstaff.

And, it could not have come ata better time, according toGeorge McDonald, Manager ofPlanning and Marketing.

"Public transportation in LosAngeles County carries three tofour per cent of all trips. As gas-oline supplies become short or

artioning is implemented, ob-iously we are going to be called

on to carry far more people," Mc-Donald said. "This sectorimprovement is absolutelynecessary in order that we gearup to do that."

However, in unveiling theproposed system improvementsDirector of Bus Planning Paul C.Taylor stressed that there is stillmuch work yet to be done, mostlyin the area of reviewing theproposal.

"This improvement programincorporates a review process

which is unprecedented in theDistrict's history," said Taylor, theproject coordinator. "Throughoutthe concept formulation stage,the project has been marked byclose cooperation among Districtdepartments, both informally andin formal meetings of theInterdepartmental Task Force es-tablished by General ManagerJack Gilstrap to coordinate the

project work."The initial proposal has been

submitted for comments fromDistrict bus drivers and informa-tion operators, elected officials,municipal transit operators, com-m u n ity organizations andmembers of the general public.All comments will be recordedand responded to and theresponses will be widely dis-

tributed to the groups and in-dividuals that made the com-ments," Taylor explained.

The first in a series of meetingsbetween planners, schedulersand District operators wasscheduled to be held on March14 at operating Division 3 inHighland Park. Similar meetingsare planned on an informal basisat each of the divisions to allowpersonnel an opportunity to com-ment on the proposal. A forumwas also scheduled foremployees at District head-quarters to familiarize them withthe project and to get their input.Public meetings to discuss theproposal began on March 22.

Since the 1980 SectorImprovement Program covers anarea with the greatest populationdensity in the RTD service area,Taylor said he was expectingconsiderable input on theproposal. With the currenttimetable calling for implementa-tion of the proposal during theJune 1980 shake-up, Taylor saidcomments and suggestions willbe accepted through June 1,1979.

For several months followingthat date, staff will incorporatepublic comments into a revisedproposal and develop a detailedplan for implementing the pro-ject. This work will lead to a finalinternal review and presentationto the Board of Directors, who

(Please turn to page 2)

Sixtycenturiesof service

The occasion was the fourthannual Employee ServiceAwards Presentation at Districtheadquarters and GeneralManager Jack Gilstrap (farright) took advantage of theopportunity to hold an infor-mal rap session with some ofRTD's senior employees.Employees attending the two-day ceremony were given anopportunity to teil topmanagement officials whatthey thought was wrong—orright—with District operations.As Manager of OperationsSam Black told the group,"You people are thebackbone of this companyand we will always want tohear what you have to say.Your years of knowledge andexperience are invaluable."(More photos of thoseemployees who received ser-vice awards appear on pages4 and 5).

FINAL TOUCH—Director of Bus Planning Paul over details of the 1980 Sector Improvement ProgramTaylor (right) and Principal Planner Steve Parry go prior to presenting it to RTD personnel and the public.

About the numbering systemAs part of the 1980 Sector Improvement Program, RTD is plann-ing to introduce a new numbering system for bus lines which willbe easier to understand. While subject to change, the new systemused for the study lines in this proposal is easy to remember:

* Numbers 1-99 are local routes to and from downtown LosAngeles.

* Numbers 100-299 are local routes in all other areas.* Numbers 300-399 are limited stop routes.* Numbers 400-499 are express routes to and from downtown

Los Angeles.* Numbers 500-599 are express routes in all other areas.* Numbers 600-699 are special service routes (Airport Ex-

press, race track service, etc.).While the new numbering system applies only to those lines

studied for the 1980 Sector Improvement, future sector revisionswill implement the new system throughout the District.

What do you think?Name: Date:Work Location: Telephone: Badge number: Present line number .

Comments on the 1980 Sector Improvement Program•

Please use additional sheet if necessary. Return to RTD PlanningDepartment, Location 32, or 425 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA90013.

Page 2

1980 SECTOR IMPROVEMENT

Grid system, transit centers highfight plan(Continued from page 1)received the initial proposal inFebruary, by fall of 1979. UponBoard approval of the plan, allDistrict departments will beginfinal preparation to implementthe plan.

If the plan is approved, whatchanges will it bring to thesystem? How will it affect theriding public? And, what will itmean for the men and womenwho operate the District'sbuses.?

As it stands now, the 1980 Sec-tor Improvement Program repre-sents the most extensive revisionof bus service in RTD history. lt isestimated that the project mightaffect as many as 890,000boarding passengers in thegreater Los Angeles area. That'stwo-thirds of the system.

According to Steve Parry, prin-cipal planner, using essentiallythe same bus fleet the District hastoday, the 1980 sector improve-ments will:

—Expand the ability of theDistrict to attract additional ridersin many areas through increasedpassenger capacity while ex-panding the public's access totransit services, especially on"crosstown" corridors;

—Expand travel opportunitiesfor present riders through exten-sions and inter-sector linkages,as well as reducing the need totransfer on several major streets;

—Complete a county-wide gridsystem (begun with the 1975,1976 sector improvements) withbuses operating frequently on allnorth-south and east-west streetsfrom downtown Los Angeles tothe San Diego Freeway and fromthe Hollywood Hills to CenturyBoulevard;

—Add nearly 200 miles of newbus service, including service onstreets that now have no buses,while introducing a new system of160 lines (115 local, 16 limitedand 29 express lines);

—Reduce crowding on at least20 major streets, includingWilshire, Sunset, Veniceboulevards and Vermont andWestern avenues;

—Institute a new line number-ing format that will make thesystem easier to understand anduse;

—Conserve energy by makingthe District's system more ef-ficient and effective.

According to Parry, thebenefits to the Operator will bemanyfold.

"Quite often, the driver will beworking a shorter route, whichwill keep buses from bunching upand give the operators a bettershot at maintaining schedules,"Parry explained. "The gridsystem will eliminate a lot ofturns, making routes easier towork and also easier tolearn not to mention easierfor the customer to figure out."

As Taylor explained, theprimary reason for the changes isthat Los Angeles has changed.

"The sector improvement cyclewas begun because of the needto make large scale improve-ments to accommodate changingland usage and travel patternsand to respond to public requestsfor service," Taylor said.

As an example he cited afeature of the proposal that wouldcreate direct service betweenmany communities where itpresently does not exist, such asbetween the San Fernando Valleyand Glendale-Pasadena or

proposal. Santa MonicaBoulevard, also presently servedby three lines, will be served byone line under the plan. In addi-tion, several lines will be ex-tended from the East LosAngeles area to five com-munities, including City of Com-merce, Huntington Park, Bell,Cudahy and Compton.

Another key element in th.proposed plan will be the crea-tion of 17 multi-line transferpoints, or transit centers, for localand regional bus service. Thesetransfer points will provide ac-cess to improved service in theareas outside the grid and aug-ment the grid in certain areas.

"The use of these centers hasproven most effective in previoussector improvements, especiallywhere topography constrains usfrom adhering to a strict grid,"said Parry. "As well, they enablepatrons to change between localand express routes. Perhaps themost effective transit center is theEl Monte Station, where local andexpress routes converge andallow patrons to reach virtuallyevery point in the San GabrielValley."

Under the 1980 proposal, forexample, a transfer point wouldbe established near FairfaxAvenue and WashingtonBoulevard beneath the SantaMonica Freeway, providing condivenient and timely transfers frorrWlocal bus lines to express linesbound for downtown LosAngeles. lt also would provide aconnecting point for passengersfrom throughout the Westsidebound for such diverse locationsas UCLA, Fox Hills, Los AngelesInternational Airport, WilshireDistrict and the beach cities. Ser-vice from the center also wouldbe provided to the San FernandoValley.

Other multi-line transfer pointswould be developed at UCLA,Century City, Wilshire Center,Hollywood, Carson Mall, Fox HillsMall, Crenshaw Center and in thecentral business districts ofInglewood, Pasadena, Glendale,Huntington Park and Compton.Additional points would bedeveloped in Highland Park,Lynwood and at the Los AngelesCounty-USC Medical Center.

Hollywood and Highland Park, Atpresent, it is necessary to travelto the Central Business Districtand then on to the destination.

"Many of the District's buslines have evolved to their pre-sent status from a conglomera-tion of rail and bus routes carriedover from RTD predecessor com-panies." explained Parry."Numerous changes have beenmade over the years to individuallines in an attempt to accom-modate changing ridership pat-terns, but in areas such as WestLos Angeles, many of the routesof the old Red Cars are still readi-ly discernible in today's network.

"Inefficiencies and operationalproblems abound as this transitnetwork, designed for the landuse and economic conditions ofhalf a century ago, attempts tomeet modern travel needs."

As in past sector improve-ments, one of the major featuresof the 1980 Sector ImprovementProgram is the implementation ofa grid system which, Taylor said,has a two-fold effect on riders.The grid system eliminatestransfers for trips along a singlestreet and provides access to anypoint in the grid with only onetransfer.

The introduction of a gridsystem will allow many RTDriders, for the first time, to traveldirectly between many parts ofthe Southland where through ser-vice on the same street presentlyis limited or does not exist.

For example, Third Street,which is currently served by por-tions of three routes, will haveone route between Beverly Hillsand downtown Los Angelesfollowing implementation of the

MARVIN L. HOLEN

RUTH RICHTER

How much is my pension?By ED PAULL

Pension & Benefits Administrator"How much is my pension?" I have been asked that question

thousands of times and there just is no quick and easy answer.Each individual's pension is different from every other employee'spension.

The different factors that make up a pension include:1. Your continuous years of service with the Distrcit. 2. Your ageat retirement. 3. Your highest three years average earnings (asdescribed in your pension booklet). 4. Your spouse's birthdate. 5.The type of option selected by you.

For example, assume a 65-year-old male retires and he has a63-year-old wife. The three-year average earnings of theemployee was $1,500 per month ($18,000 per year), and he retireswith 30 years of service. This retiree may choose any one of thefollowing options, which are described in your pension booklet:

— Life Annuity — at $776.27 per month.— Joint and Full Survivor — at $589.27 per month.— Joint and One-half Survivor — at $669.92 per month.— 60 month certain — at $755.76 per month.— 120 month certain — at $705.12 per month.— 180 month certain — at $643.16 per month.In addition to the above, Social Security provides a benefit of

about $490 per month (age 65). The pension booklet that each ofyou have describes in detail how you could calculate your ownpension benefit.

If you are within one year of your retirement and would like meto calculate an estimated benefit, please feel free to call me at 972-6165. If you are within three months of your selected retirementdate, please call me to schedule an appointment to complete yourretirement application.

Safety

firsts

Recognizing the divisions with the best safeperformance records in the maintenanceand transportation departments for thefourth quarter, Director Gerald Leonard(left) presents plaques to Division 6Maintenance Manager Glenn Powell andDivision 12 Transportation Manager RalphCostello as Safety Specialist John Brewer(right) looks on. Division 6 employeesworked more than 16,000 hours without alost time or first aid injury. Division 12 in-creased its accident span from 26,000 to31,000 miles — a 19 per cent improve-ment.

Page 3

B of D stick with Holen,narre Ruth Richter veep

Marvin L. Holen, an attorney, was re-elected to an unprecedentedthird term as President of the Southern California Rapid TransitDistrict Board of Directors at the March 13 Board meeting. Holen, whowas unopposed for the position, becomes the first Director to hold theoffice for more than two terms since the RTD was created in 1964 bythe California State Legislature.

At the same time, Director Ruth Richter was unanimously electedVice-President of the 11-member District governing body for thecoming year.

Holen, a graduate of the UCLA School of Law, was appointed to theBoard of Directors by Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman in1975. He was first elected president in 1977. A partner in the law firmof Van Petten and Holen, he is a former captain in the United StatesMarine Corps Reserve. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife.

Richter, who joined the Board in 1976, is one of two appointees byLos Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. A resident of Winnetka, where sheand her husband operate a motorcycle business, Richter has longbeen prominent in San Fernando Valley civic affairs, including the As-sociated Chambers of Commerce, which she served as president in1975.

She served as president of the Winnetka Chamber of Commercefor four years and is a member of the San Fernando Valley Board ofRealtors, acting as an officer of that organization for eight years.

In the field of transportation, Richter was a charter member and thefirst chairman of the Mayor's Valley Transportation Advisory Commit-tee in 1972. Since 1974 she has been a member of the Citizens Ad-visory Committee on Rapid Transit.

No self-respecting pilot wouldtake off in an airplane without firstperforming a thorough pre-flightinspection of the craft. It's just not

Ampafe. Minor oversights on theeleround have cost the lives of

many pilots and passengers inthe air.

For a bus operator, performinga thorough pre-trip inspection ofyour vehicle can be a "lifesaver"in terms of service delays saved,road calls avoided, accidentsprevented and customeraggravation eliminated.

A District-wide effort iscurrently underway to attempt toreduce the number of roadcallsby having operators check forthose minor inconveniences thatcan lead to a bus being forced toshutdown in the middle of a runor create a safety hazard beforethey leave the division yard.

At RTD operating Division 1they have begun a program ofcommending those operatorswho consistently perform an ac-curate and complete pre-trip in-spection. and complete pre-tripinspection. Division 1 instructorsGlenn Fowler and Larry Mitchellrecently cited the efforts of

illperator Richard D. Serrano soeadway accompanied Serrano,ho has been with the District

RESULTS — During the courseof his pre-trip inspection,operator Serrano discovers abroken marker light.

four years, on one of his inspec-tions.

lt starts from the time Serranofirst approaches the bus he hasbeen assigned to drive. Heobserves the position of thewheels for when he eventuallypulls out, notes the position of thesigns for proper setting andvisually inspects the outside ofthe bus for damage, checking thetires as he goes.

Inside the bus, the operatorstarts the engine to build to theproper air pressure and warm theengine. He then checks that thedoor handle is in the neutral posi-tion and the master control isoperational.

Serrano then sets the headsign to "Not in service" and setsthe bus run number, line numberand short and side signs. An in-spection of the bus interiorfollows, paying particular atten-tion for any damage (such asbroken glass) that could pose asafety hazard to passengers.

After checking to see if thebuzzer works, Serrano inspectsall guages and checks thelights—including turning on thehazard warning signals andchecking them front and rear,engaging the rear door to checkthe brake lights and checking theleft and right turn signals.

After checking the headlightsand windshield wipers and horn,Serrano makes sure front andrear doors are operating proper-ly, paying particular attention tothe rear door brake interlock tosee that it releases properly.

Serrano then adjusts theoperator's seat, adjusts allmirrors and then inspects the fireextinguisher's color code gauge(green indicates full) and checksits mounting bracket to see that itis secure.

If the bus he is operating is soequipped, Serrano sets the radioto the proper channel.

The last thing the operatordoes before pulling out of theyard—but one of the mostimportant—is to make sure thebrakes work.

Pre-trip inspections sauetime, money, frustration

Page 4

1 District salDistrict salutes longevityFor the fourth consecutive year, the Southern California Rapid

Transit District saluted its long-term employees with the AnnualEmployees Service Awards Presentation held March 14 and 15 in theBoard Room at District headquarters.

Honoring those employees who have reached the milestones of 10,15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 years of service, this year's award presentationsaw a total 388 employees honored for a total accumulation of 6,370years of service to the RTD and its predecessor agencies.

In a nearly hour-long address to the assembled employees,General Manager Jack Gilstrap thanked them for their devotion totheir jobs and gave them a brief rundown on the District's immediateplans and problems. Following that, Gilstrap opened the session upfor questions from the audience, which was comprised predominantlyof operators and mechanics, allowing them to air their comments andcomplaints in an informal rap sessio-n.

District Secretary Richard Kissick gets 40-year pin from Paula Salido, Ad-ministrative Secretary.

25 YEARS — (Front row, 1-r) Joseph Reeves, Jr., Gerald Woods, VirginiaFees, B.A. Burrola, Victor Garcia, (second row) Harry Zipper, OscarCarlson, Allan Styffe, Charles Breene, Abraham Griffeth, (back row)Charles Pedersen, John Shea, Joseph Gay.

15 YEARS — (Front row, 1-r) John Micklos, Jesse Cortez, Burvin Lindsey,Robert Lisenby, John Falbo, Carl Motley, (second row) James Dailey,Ancel Rodgers, Peggy Taylor, Virginia Meyers, Jean Unger, Anita Allen,(back row) Raymond Hassen, Arthur Thomas, Maru Floyd, HoraceHodges, Clarence Andrews.

10 YEARS — (Front row, 1-r) George Wheaton, Theartis Blue, JesusTiscareno, Johnny Smith, Bobby Taylor, (second row) Milton Jackson,James Dunlap, Johnny Grayson, Thomas Duncan, Jr., Freeman Owens,(back row) Joseph Rubin, M. Jason, Sam Wilson, Horace Johnson,Richard Croston, Edward Townsend.

15 YEARS — (Front row, 1-r) Orville Hatfield, Pat Coble, EdmundThompson, K. V. Scott, Frankie Contreras, Marvin Crook, Jr., (secondrow) Columbus Burnette, Barbara Evens, Jack Hall, Gilbert Bailey,Savanah Bowers, Benjamin Boone, Jr., (back row) Charley Williams,Richard Small, Orville McRiley, Ralph Manchaca, Jr., Oscar Coleman.

10 YEARS — (Front row, 1-r) Juan Casteel, Shirley Stewart, Janet Clark,Patricia Loftus, Rose-Marie Cendejas, Clifton Huckaby, (second row)Clincy Harris, Freddie Magee, Louis Peralta, Floyd Shaw, James Willis,Sam Olivito, Jr., (back row) Alfonso Moore, Eddie Fentroy, Daniel Ruiz,Vaclav Barta, Charles Egardo, Wallace Moore.

Page 5

35 YEARS — (Left to right) C.J. Holzer, Howard Moser, H.C. Colberg, Jr.,Joseph LaFond.

35 YEARS—(Left toright) L.H. Birkner (pin for 30 years), Ray Cross, E.A.Meyer, Myron Pruett, Marie Gaziukevicz.

25 YEARS — (Front row, l-r) Delmar Gould, Charles Foxworth, FrankWright, Steve Hearn, Jr., Carlos Holguin, (back row) Leo Manclow, RoyDenmark, Chester Brenner, Gordon Stoute, John Wandler.

30 YEARS — (Front row l-r) Frank Summer, Jean Betty Johnston, OrenWellmerling, Harold McMahon, (back row) Geoff L. Diehl, Jr., George"Rocky" Stone.

20 YEARS — (Front row, l-r) Robert Bustos, Manuel Montes, N.C. Click,R.A. Gutierrez, Gene McRiley, Wesley McCarns, (second row) RonaldHarsche, Leonard Finn, John Paul Love, Alfred Howe, GrantCopenhaver, William Hicks, (back row) Thomas Copeland, E.J. Freeman,Alfredo Miranda, Jr., Russell Sampson, Bob Holland, T. Holmes.

20 YEARS — (Front row, l-r) Louis Walker, David Galvez, Raul Rodri-guez, lsidore Legras, Eugene Smith, Alvin Smith, (second row) WilliamTeem, Richard Webster, J. T. DeLeon, Lewis Willis, Bruce Ranch, ThomasAllen, (back row) M. D. Thompson, Willie Phipps, Murray Peques, ClintonShelton.

10 YEARS — (Front row, l-r) Milton Saa, Dee Zeller, Robert Kramer, JohnBales, Alton Williams, J. W. Bass, (second row) John Phelps, EugeneRansom, W.J. Franklin, Richard Harris, (back row) McKellar, John Frank,Curtis Wyrick, Jessie Tolbert.

10 YEARS — (Front row, l-r) Charles Sailor, Richard Jackson, SherriGray, C. Rodriguez, Leon Solmo, James McCain, (second row) CharlesEssex, Donald Cleveland, Everett Lewis, O.D. Doss, Lloyd Bluford, Jr.,(back row) Jerry King, John Williams, Jr., Billy Costley, Ennis Finley.

OUTSTANDING—Director David K. Hayward (left) presented cer-tificates to Employees of the Month Thurman Green, Debora Thomasand J.P. "Pat" Jarman. Taking part were (second row, left to right)Division 5 Transportation Manager Ernie Giaquinto, Manager ofCustomer Relations Bob Williams and Division 7 MaintenanceManager Don Waite.

Career success salutedThey say that the world is comprised of two types of people:

Those willing to work and those willing to let them. Several yearsago the District's Board of Directors established a program tohonor those employees who were willing to work and last monththree more names were added to the honor roll.

Debora Thomas was selected January Telephone InformationOperator of the Month for the efficiency she has displayed inanswering requests for information. Since joining the District lastApril, Debora's excellent attendance record, the accuracy of herinformation and her patient and courteous manner have earnedher praise from her supervisors as well as commendations fromthe customers she assists. Debora has already compiled a thickstack of commendation letters from customers, typically laudingher for the pleasant, competent and precise way she provides theinformation that enables them to utilize District services.

Honored as January Operator of the Month was Division 5'sThurman Adolphus Green, who has been with the District since1972. In that time he has not had an avoidable accident, hasearned a five-year safety award, and has had no absences or mis-souts in the last three years. Thurman believes that it is theOperator who determines and controls the actions of his pas-sengers. If the Operator has a pleasant attitude, Green explains,then the passengers will respond in the same manner. While heenjoys driving a bus, Thurman hopes to eventually get out of thedriver's seat and move up in the company. He is presently at-tending college to improve his chances in this regard. Married andthe father of four children, Thurman still finds time for his hobbiesof woodcraft, chess and fishing.

Selected as the Maintenance Employee of the Month was Divi-sion 7's J. P. "Pat" Jarman. In his more than 12 years with theDistrict, Pat has worked his way up from Mechanic-C to aMechanic-A Leadman. Dedicated to his work, Pat arrives earlyeach day to take care of his responsibilities and to organize theworkload of the day. He does not leave until all his duties are com-pleted or directed to the next shift. Pat's expertise of coach con-struction and knowledge of coach repair keep Division 7's rollingstock an the road as much as possible. Pat also coordinates acci-dent repairs at the division and expedites the proper forms andrecords. As the father of four young sons, Pat is not only requiredto repair and assemble toys and soothe scraped knees, he mustkeep up with Little League baseball, football and soccer seasons.

NameAdams, Arthur L.Baker, PatriciaBigno, AlegandroBojorquez, DianeBrissey, ThomasBrown, Joseph P.Brown, QyettaBuchanan, WinstonBustle, Sara L.Clifford, RichardCoble, Patricia A.Fields, Ethel M.

D tv./Dept. ClassIticatIon3205 Operator to Op. X. Supv. V.O.5050 Info. Clerk to Info. Tkt. Clk.3302 Elec. Comm. Tech. to Elec. Comm. Tech. Ldmn.4416 Info. Clerk to Ticket Clerk3201 Operator to Op. X. Supv. V.O.3206 Operator to Op. X. Supv. V.O.3207 Opr. Trainee to Operator3302 Utility "A" to Mechanic "C"7100 Accts. Clk. to Jr. Invoice Clk.3302 Elec. Comm. Tech. to Sys. Elec. Comm. Tech.3299 Staff Asst. II to Sr. Staff Asst.3215 Operator to Op. X. Supv. V.O.

Date2-18-792-11-792-19-791-28-792-18-792-18-792-17-791-26-792-12-792-18-791-29-792-18-79

Galongo, Linda M.Garcia, Jose R.Gupta, Anand K.Hamerly, DarylHawkins, GeraldHemingway, WillieHernandez, ErnestHiggins, Eugene W.Howard, Jr., JohnHug hes, SantosHudec, PhillipKelley, AlvinLightner, StevenMartinez, Jr., M.Mathews, John F.Mitchell, ClaudeMolinar, JoseNishimura, YemikoOrr, PatrickPonte, HugoRico, JoAnnRodriguez, Jr., RaulSchuster, ZacharySeamans, RichardSteenbock, OrvilleWalker, FrancesWallace, KennethWhirledge, Janis F.

3399 Typist-Clerk to Gen. Clk. I7300 Jr. Stk. Clk. to Stk. Clk.7200 Supvg. Anal. to Actg. Supvg. Sys. Anal.3302 Utility "A" to Mech. "C"3302 Shppg. Clk. to Stk. Shp. Clk. T.D.3110 Mopper-Waxer to Lead Mopper-Waxer3202 Opr. Trainee to Operator3302 Elec. Comm. Tech. to Sys. Elec. Comm. Tech.7300 Stk. Clk. to Shppg. Clk.4480 Info. Clerk to Ticket Clk.7300 Jr. Stk. Clk. to Stk. Clk.4600 Print Shp. Clk. to Mileage Cal.3315 Utility "A" to Mech. "C"7300 Stk. Clk. to Tr. Drvr. Clk.3213 Operator to Op. X. Supv. V.O.3307 Mech. "B" to Mech. "B" Ldmn.3315 Utility "A" to Mech. "C"7100 Payroll Clerk to Spvsng. Control Clerk3308 Equip. Maint. Supv. I to Equip. Maint. Supv. II3334 Utility "A" to Laborer "A"6200 Secretary II (temp) to Secretary II3302 Mech. "A" to Mech. Rd. Supv.3202 Opr. Trainee to Operator3302 Utility "A" to Mech. "C"3302 Utility "A" to Mech. "A"3399 Gen. Clk. I to Maint. Manpower Coord. (Temp.)7300 Info. Clerk to Tr. Dvr. Clk.3099 Planning Anal. to Oper. Anal.

1-15-792-18-79

12-01-781-26-792-18-791-22-792-16-792-18-792-14-791-28-792-14-792-01-791-26-792-14-792-18-791-23-791-26-792-18-71111k1-28-11.2-18-792-05-791-28-792-16-791-26-791-26-791-15-791-28-791-29-79

Page 6

Schedule changesMoving up

Shifting gearsDis./

Name Dept. ClassificatIon Hired RetlredClark, Lester A. 3309 Mopper/Waxer 1-04-46 2-01-79Ferguson, Gerald A. 3203 Operator 8-05-46 2-07-79Foxworth, Charles A. 3215 Operator 11-05-53 2-24-79Gibson, Agnes 7000 Supvsg. Control Clerk 8-11-47 2-01-79Hyman, Jack Irving 3314 Mechanic "A" 9-25-58 1-25-79Jackson, Harold 3215 Operator 6-23-47 2-10-79Jordan, John C. 3208 Operator 8-05-47 2-15-79Miller, George A. 3206 Operator 11-06-45 2-06-79Romo, Salvador A. 3301 Mechanic "A" 5-25-44 1-26-79Wick, Robert G. 3399 Asst. Superintendant Maint. & Equip. 7-17-40 2-07-79

In memoriamNameBecker, William

Carson, William

Daniels, DeArcy

Henley, Phillip

Huft, Philip

McCollum, Carl D.

Rumsey, William

Stovall, John H.Vidano, Frank

Wright, Jr., Miles Edwin

Dis./Dept. ClassIficatIon3212 Former Operator

retired 5-1-753314 Former Mechanic "A"

retired 6-01-793205 Former Operator

retired 6-1-683299 Former Supervisor

Retired 6-01-683202 Former Operator

Retired 6-01-653208 Former Operator

Retired 3-9-573209 Former Operator

Retired 3-1-663202 Former Operator3202 Former Operator

retired 12-1-542000 Former Manager of Operations

retired 11-1-67

deceased2-07-79

1-04-79

1-24-79

2-03-79

2-19-79

1-29-79

2-03-79

2-18-792-19-79

2-07-79

Director Jay Price presented com-memorative plaques to District personnelwho retired in March as part of the Board'songoing program of retiree recognition.Pictured here are (frorst row, left to right)Price, William J. Foster, Cecil C. Ray,Edward H. Martin, (back row) Antonio M.Nunes, Barney Pasternak, George R.Loveday and Russell D. Frazelle. Unable toattend the ceremony at headquarters wereFrank L. Mauldin and Kenneth W. Webster.

Retireerecognition

Graduation dayLike any graduation day, everyone was all smiles upon completion of theEffective Business Communications Class, conducted recently by theDistricts Employee Development and Training Department. Receivingtheir certificates of completion from instructor Dr. John Gould of theUniversity of Southern California were (seated, left to right) Edith Goff,Marinda O'neal, Nina Capoccia, Barbara Swaine, Monica Ingram, JoAnnRico, (standing, left to right), Darlene Velasco, Billie Orth, Bernie Howard,Ruth Manus, Doris Dozier, Dorothy Lopez, Marian Sanders, BettySconce, Paula Salido and Gould.

Page 7

RECREATION NEWS

Universal Studios, Disneyland headline spring flingsSpring has sprung and

brought with it a package of fami-ly fun days from which to choose.

District employees can taketheir choice of weekend days(April 7-8 or 21-22) to tourUniversal Studios at a specialdiscount price of $5.25 perperson. Children under five arefree. Tickets are good for any ofthese four days.

Sunday, May 20, bringsDisneyland early this season.This 4 p.m. to Midnight adventure»ncludes unlimited use of rides

d attractions for only $5.50 forTD employees and their family.

Guests are $6.

An RTD Father's Day weekendevent is planned for June 16-17when we will once again invadeKnott's Berry Farm. The $5 perperson price gives you unlimiteduse of all ticketed rides and at-tractions from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

It's still not too late to enter theSpring Golf Tournament set forApril 28 at Ontario National GolfCourse. The $10 entry fee coversgreen fees and prizes. Golf cartsare available, also.

On Saturday morning, May 5,

the Amtrak train carrying RTDemployees and families to SanDiego for the Zoo Excursion willleave Union Station at 8:30 a.m.sharp. The return train departsfrom San Diego at 4:30 p.m. andarrives back in Los Angeles at 7p.m.

A substantial discount off theregular prices has been arrangedby the Recreation Department, at$21 per adult and $10 per childunder 12 years of age. Theseprices include Amtrak fare, tran-sportation to and from the zooand admission to the zoo andwild animal park.

* * * *

Another trip to San Diego isplanned for June, this time to the"Kool Jazz Festival." You providethe transportation and the RecDepartment provides the roomsand tickets for the concerts, setfor June 8-9. All performancesfor the concerts are not final atthis time, but TeddyPendergrass, Chic and NatalieCole are definite. Our packageincludes $11 tickets to the con-cert, and two nights at the SevenSeas Lodge, including baggagehandling, for $63 per personbased on double occupancy. Theprice is $93 single, $53 triple and$46 quadruple.

Tickets are now available forthe Day at the Races, HollywoodPark, on Sunday, April 22. An $8Turf Club ticket, which includes adrink, will be your key to a day ofenjoyment at the races.

For those of you seeking a littleaction over the Memorial DayWeekend, how about Las Vegas.Three nights at the RainbowVegas Hotel from May 25-28 willcost $68 per person based ondouble occupancy, $104 forsingle, $56 for triple. Reserva-tions are limited so plan early.

* * * *

For the nature lovers, the an-nounced trip to Sequoia is set forJuly 13-14. The bus will leave ElMonte Station at 9 a.m. on the13th and return Sunday. For $56per person (based on double oc-cupancy) you will receivechartered bus transportation,hotel accommodations at theGiant Forest Lodge, all-day tourof Sequoia National Park andKings Canyon, and all baggagehandling, gratuities and tax. A$20 per person deposit is due byApril 20 to hold your reservation.

* * *

For reservation and ticket in-formation on any of these events

and excursions, call Betty in theRecreation Department, exten-sion 6580.

Go fly a kite!. . . carefully

It's that time of year again.Brisk winds, cloud-studdedskies and warm springweather herald the start ofanother kite flying season.

If you or your children dofly kites, the RTD SafetyDepartment, in conjunctionwith the Department ofWaten and Power, suggeststhe following four basic rulesof safe kite flying:

1. Avoid flying kites nearelectric lines; 2. Never usemetallic string, wire or anymetal parts when making orflying a kite; 3. A wet stringshould never be used in fly-ing kites; 4. If a kite getscaught in electric lines, donot try to free it. Call theDWP and a lineman will takelt down.

The numbers to call are:in the Central Los Angelesarea, 481-4211; in the SanFernando Valley, 785-8393;in the West Los Angelesarea, 479-4286; and in theHarbor District, 835-0246.

HEFIDUIFIgHis work in the scheduling

department has made WilliamR. Kreski particularly in-terested in how long it takes toget from one point to another.That's why he was especiallypleased when he clocked atime of 3 hours, 45 minutes forthe recent Culver CityMarathon. lt was the first timeKreski had run such a race.Marathons measure 26.2 milesand William averaged about81/2 minutes per mile. Just tofinish a 26-mile long race isquite an accomplishment!

The engineers andarchitects in Bus Facilities havebeen "working overtime" in amanner of speaking and, as aresult, their families continueto grow. In the past 18 monthsalone, there have been fivenew additions to the families ofBus Facilities employees.

Engineer John Joyce and hiswife Peggy welcomed a babyboy, Matthew James, on Oc-tober 4, 1977. Warren and JulieFu, he's an engineer also, werethe recipient of a baby girl onDecember 9, 1977. Last Oc-tober 30, architect Don Shin-tani and his wife Agnescelebrated the arrival of theirbaby boy, Todd Lance. OnJanuary 13 ot this year assis-tant architect Surin Chet-nakarnkul and his wife, Som-mart, celebrated the arrival oftheir little girl. Linda. And last,but certainly not least,engineering technicianLawrence Hoccom and his wifeVeronica welcomed their littleboy, Michael David, onJanuary 30.

But those in Bus Facilities

are not the only ones who knowhow to make babies. Division 5Operator Melvin Jones, Jr. andhis wife, Patricia, welcomedtheir child, a 6 pound, 5 ouncegirl they will call AmberPatrice. Amber made herdebut on February 3, joiningnine-year old sister Donyaleand 14-month-old brotherMelvin

• *

Elsewhere, Division 8Operator Joe Pryce and hiswife, Karen, were pleased toannounce the birth of their se-cond daughter, Sarah Gail, onNovember 27, 1978. Sheweighed in at 10 pounds, 8ounces and was 22 incheslong. She joins sister Becky,now two years old. Like Becky,who weighed 11 pounds, fourounces, Sarah Gail was thebiggest baby in the nursery.Joe's comment: "Well, mom,you did it again!"

Division 9 operator Ernest L.Pasini and his wife, Brenda,welcomed their first child,Christopher Michael, onFebruary 2. Entering the worldat 9 pounds, 3 ounces andstretching to 20 inches inlength, Christopher becomesthe first grandchild on hismother's side of the family.

Derrick Wayne, an Operatorworking out of Division 1, an-nounced that he and DorisHumphries were married inLas Vegas on January 13.

• * *

Dino Silvestre, a Division 15Operator, proved that you'renever too old to learn by mak-ing the Dean's List at both WestLos Angeles College and Los

Angeles Valley College. For thefall semester, Dino earned a3.0 grade point average (out ofa possible 4.0) at WLAC andearned at 3.7 GPA at Valley.When he's not studying or driv-ing a bus, Dino occupies histime jogging, bicycling andsinging.

Division 3 operator DenverLee Bush and his wife, Mary-lu,had their first child, a boy,promptly named Logan Patrick

Bush IV. Little Logan clockedin at precisely 3:38 p.m. onFebruary 11, weighing in at 7pounds, 6 ounces and measur-ing 201/2 inches in length.

* *

The Roman numerals wereout in force in February as Divi-sion 9's John Joseph Flechas,Jr. dubbed his son, bornFebruary 14, John JosephFlechas III. John III joins three-year-old sister Tania andweighed an even 6 pounds atbirth. He was 19 inches long.

FATHER AND SON — The oldest bus in the fleet vehicles work at Division 7 under the guidance of Gus(6599) poses for a photo with the newest (9207). Both Lopez (left) and Don Waite.

General Manager JackGilstrap and other SouthernCalifornia Rapid Transit Districtofficials recently were host to afour-member delegation from theSoviet Union as part of atechnical and professional ex-change program.

The delegation, which wasgiven a detailed orientation and

tour of RTD in addition to a visit tothe State capitol during their two-day stay in California, was madeup of V.A. Zhitkov, economicengineer in Kiev; V.L. Alekseyev,Administrative Chief MoscowAuto Transport; E.I. Razumeyev,Moscow Planning Commission;and A.V. Volokitin, DepartmentChief USSR State Committee for

Science and Technology.

According to Gilstrap, while inSacramento the delegation metwith Governor Jerry Brown andleadership from both .StateHouses, including Senate Presi-dent Pro-Tempore James Mills,Assembly Rules Chairman LouisPappan (Daly City), Assembly

ORIENTATION—Taking part in tour of Districtfacilities for a delegation from the Soviet Union were(left to right) interpreter Walter Stublets, delegate V.L.Alekseyev, Manager of Operations Sam Black, in-terpreter Fay Greenbaum, John Kaiser of Columbia

University, Controller-Treasurer Joe Scatchard, headof the Soviet delegation E.I. Razumeyev, delegateV.A. Zhitkov, General Manager Jack Gilstrap anddelegate A.V. Volokitin.

Southern California Rapid Transit District425 So. Main St., 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013 BULK RATE

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLos Angeles, Ca

Permit No. 32705

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Published monthly for the employeesand retirees of the Southern CaliforniaRapid Transit District.

Editorial input and suggestionswelcome. Deadline for receipt ofeditorial copy is the 14th of each month.Send black-and-white photographs on-fy, please. Requests for photographiccoverage of District events must bepreceded by 72 hours notice.

Mailing address: Headway, 6th Floor,425 South Main Street, Los Angeles,CA 90013. Telephone: 213-972-6680.

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HEADWAY

Page 8

ONE MILLION MILES?

6599 just keeps rain', and rollitt and.There has been much discus-

sion of late about the RTD's agingfleet. The average age of theDistrict's 2,600 buses is 12 years,the oldest in the country andmuch too old for efficient anddependable Operation.

And that brings us to the ques-tion, which is the oldest bus in thefleet still in Operation?

That distinction, it turns out,belongs to bus 6599, which stillserves a daily run out of Division7 in West Los Angeles.

Built in 1951, bus 6599 is now28 years old. That may not soundlike much, but think of it in termsof your family car. If you weredriving a 28-year-old car it wouldeither be a classic or aclunker ... and no one is callingthe District's buses classics. lt is atribute to the District's mechanicsand maintenance personnel that6599 looks as good as it does.

Division 7 MaintenanceManager Don Waite said it wouldbe hard to determine the actualmileage on 6599 since we boughtthe bus second-hand from

another transit property.However, he estimates themileage to be well over onemillion miles, possibly as high as1.5 million.

lronically, Division 7 is also thehome of the newest member ofthe District's fleet — the ar-ticulated bus. These bendablebuses have recently had their

service area expanded fromWilshire Boulevard (Line 83) toinclude Sunset and HollywoodBoulevards (Line 91), among thebusiest lines in the District.

DISPLAY RTD OPERATIONS

District officials host Russian transit delegationTransportation CommitteeChairman Walter Ingalls (River-side), Assemblyman FrankVicencia (Bellflower-Compton),Chairman of the AssemblyGovernmental Drganizationee_Committee, and mang highWranking staff members.

The visit from the Sovietdelegation marked the secondtime since 1976 that the RTD hasplayed host to a group from theSoviet Union as part of areciprocal series of technical andprofessional exchange programsbetween the United States andthe Soviet Union.

"I have had the pleasure ofparticipating in one of theseprograms over the past twoyears," said Gilstrap, who waspart of a seven-member UnitedStates delegation which spentthree weeks in January of 1977touring four Russian cities.

"The subject of our project hasbeen the application of manage-ment information systems andcomputers to the management oflarge cities with emphasis onurban planning, public transpor-tation, goods distribution andhousing development," Gilstrapexplained.

The recent tour was funded bisa National Science Foundatio.Grant to the Center for Govern-ment Studies of ColumbiaUniversity, under the US-USSRProgram on the Application ofComputers to the Management ofLarge Cities.