Trolley, Subway Backers Cite Cost, Noise

Cost considerations appeared to weigh heavily with those who said they favored light rail in The Los Angeles Times Poll on transportation. Environmental concerns were cited by subway proponents.

In a poll of 616 residents, 33% said they preferred a trolley to 21% who want the costlier Metro Rail subway extended into the San Fernando Valley, and 15% want either system. Only 12% wanted neither, and 19% didn’t know.

Both systems would be connected to the downtown-to-North Hollywood Metro Rail line now under construction.

Transit planners estimate that the cheapest trolley system across the Valley would cost about $800 million, whereas a full subway would run as high as $3 billion.

Asked to state the main reason for their preference, light-rail proponents told Times interviewers that a trolley would be less expensive to build (28%), would cost less to ride (12%), would be above ground (12%), would be safer from crime (11%), would be safer from accidents (11%) and could be built faster (10%).

Subway Support

Subway advocates gave a different set of responses to the same question. The leading reason for preferring a subway is that it doesn’t disrupt neighborhoods and businesses (32%). Another 10% gave a related answer, that a subway was less noisy, and 6% said they liked underground trains because there would be no overhead electric lines.

The speed advantage of a subway over a trolley was cited by 18%, and 15% said a subway was safer from accidents.

Only 5% said that building a cross-Valley subway would eliminate the need to switch from the trolley to Metro Rail in North Hollywood or Universal City--an argument for a Valley subway that is influential with transit planners.

The poll also suggested that many Valley residents are ready to forgo their cars, with 36% saying they would ride mass transit often, and 39% saying they would use the train once in a while.

All 616 respondents were asked the leading reasons why they would consider using a subway or trolley.

Responses were: to avoid congestion (38%), to reduce pollution (15%), to save commuting time (8%), to be a passenger (8%), to avoid accidents (7%), to be free from parking at destination (7%) and to save wear and tear on their car (5%).

When asked, “What would be your primary hesitation about using” a subway or trolley, residents said crime on mass transit (19%), distance from home to boarding station (18%), getting from station to destination (14%), no car at work (12%), prefer driving to being a passenger (8%) and security of car (6%).