LOS ANGELES COUNTY : MTA to Transfer 7 Bus Lines to Private Contractors

County transit officials said Thursday they will turn over operation of seven bus lines to a private contractor, a move expected to save the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $16 million in the next three years.

All seven lines have been costly to the MTA because they have relatively low ridership.

ATE Management and Service Co. of Cypress will run the buses for $15.5 million a year, substantially less than the $21.5 million it would cost the MTA, said Chief Executive Officer Franklin White.

ATE does not have the same wage and benefit costs as the MTA, said Dana Woodbury, a deputy executive officer for the transit agency.

The United Transportation Union and the MTA have an agreement that allows the agency to contract out a maximum of 13 bus lines, Woodbury said.

The seven lines to be transferred are: 125 (Rosecrans Avenue), 130 (Artesia Boulevard), 205 (Willowbrook-Harbor City-San Pedro), 225/226 (Aviation Boulevard-Palos Verdes Peninsula), 232 (Long Beach-LAX), 266 (Lakewood Boulevard-Rosemead Boulevard) and 270 (Monrovia-El Monte-Cerritos).