DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Yesterday Mayor-Elect Villaraigosa introduced a Council resolution asking the MTA to revisit its decision to cut late night rail service. I think it's a very well-written resolution, that not only recognizes the problem but seeks to offer a better solution.

While the need to achieve these savings is understandable, considering the agency's difficult budget situation, the question has arisen as to whether cutting service hours is the optimal way to accomplish the desired savings while providing needed service.

... MTA has proposed to cut the last hour, or three round trips of service (equivalent to 180 minutes of platform time). An alternative might be to cut three round trips, but instead of cutting them in one hour, to do so within the last three hours (stil 180 minutes of platform time). What would remain is late night service at every 30 minutes instead of every 20 minutes. The trains wil stil have seating space and the customers will still be able to complete their Metrorail trips.

The motion was seconded by Councilman Ludlow, whose 10th district includes the Wilshire/Western terminus. It will now go to the Transportation Committee, and hopefully will be acted upon (both by committee and Council) in time to beat the June 26th date on which Metro plans to make the changes.