Easing Commute for the Masses

Re “Rail System Rated Better for Reducing Commutes,” Jan. 14:

Building a light rail system is a very good idea for Orange County. It’s an even better idea if it is linked with another mass transit system, such as Los Angeles’ Metro Rail project.

I believe that if the Metro Green Line would be extended from its Norwalk terminus to the Anaheim and Disneyland area, and to a new Orange County rail line, the whole Los Angeles metro area would benefit.

Travelers would be able to access the nation’s second busiest airport, LAX, as well as arriving at the amusement parks in Orange County. In addition, downtown Los Angeles would be more accessible to commuters from Orange County. Fewer car trips on the freeways would translate into fewer traffic jams, easing a lot of nerves.

However the transportation system is implemented for Orange County, it ought to be discussed with our neighbors, the citizens and agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles. Working together, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the MTA will accomplish much more than if they do it alone. The approximately 12.5 million people of Los Angeles and Orange counties will be the beneficiaries of such cooperation of the transportation agencies.

FRANK WATERS

Anaheim

* While driving down the 55 Freeway about 8:45 a.m. in the rain and bumper-to-bumper traffic, I had a good chance to ponder the high occupancy vehicle lane.

OCTA believes that it is successful. And I guess it is if success means having an empty lane alongside three lanes that are completely full. There certainly is no smog generated--that is a success. Carpools must have been formed to use it, although they weren’t in evidence this day. This must be a success.

Orange Countians are pretty stupid, also. Otherwise the HOV lanes could be opened to mixed flow except for a couple of hours during morning and evening rush hours--but we’d get too confused about when or when not to use them. It does seem to work in San Jose and Seattle, but smarter people live in those areas, I guess.

We’ve been told so many times by OCTA that HOV lanes, buses and rail are better than mixed-flow lanes that we sheepishly (as in a herd) follow our leaders’ words. But how often can we ride a bus or train to our various destinations? What really hurts is the amount of our money that has gone into this pipe dream. Literally billions of dollars and we’re no better off than we were before the far-left shoulder was transformed into the first HOV lane.

LOUANN WALLACE

Santa Ana