(November 17, 2003, updated 6:36 p.m. from 2:40 p.m. initial post) -- The governing board of the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and leaders of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) have announced a tentative settlement -- for now -- of a 35-day strike that had stopped MTA Blue Line trains in LB and MTA buses elsewhere in L.A. County.

[update] MTA's web site stated on Nov. 17 at roughly 6:30 p.m. that trains will resume operation on the Metro Blue Line at 7 a.m., Tuesday (Nov. 18) between Willow Station and 7th and Metro. Trains will operate every 15 minutes until 9 p.m.

Metro Red Line service between Union Station and North Hollywood also will operate every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Trains will not be scheduled to Wilshire/Normandie or to Wilshire/Western until further notice. Additional rail services will be added as Metro Rail operators and maintenance crews return to work.

MTA says it has also begun scheduling buses into limited service late Monday (Nov. 17) and expects to ramp up to full bus service over the next 72 hours.

A union ratification vote is scheduled Wednesday. If the agreement is approved, full service will be phased in over a 72-hour period.

Updated info, check www.mta.net.