Valley loses bus routes

Even as gas prices for Los Angeles-area drivers are surging to record highs, transit officials are weighing whether to cut up to 20 bus lines across the city - including about 12 in the San Fernando Valley. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

Meanwhile, dozens of other lines would either have hours reduced or routes shortened in June.

Overall, the cuts would wipe out some 375,000 hours of bus service annually for Metro, which is facing a $100 million operating deficit for the coming year.

And for motorists now grappling with higher fuel prices - as oil prices this week soared to over $103 a barrel - the cuts could limit alternatives for money-saving commuting options.