L.A. River Freeway

Instead of trying to put a halt to the escalating traffic gridlock in Los Angeles, the honorable Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) proposes to add more fuel to the fire by proposing an increase in freeway miles to accommodate even more traffic as detailed in his commentary, “What’s So Silly About a Bargain Freeway?” Op-Ed Page, Sept. 8. The silliest thing about transforming the Los Angeles River channel into yet another freeway is that it just adds one more source of traffic congestion while continuing to justify business as usual in an increasingly obstructed flow along traffic arteries.

It would also seem that Katz is a servant to the trucking industry, wishing his ill-conceived plan between downtown and the harbor to be used exclusively by trucks. For shame to have an elected representative seeming to serve special interests.

What is needed are more plans as proposed by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, who does not kowtow to special interests other than the interests of all of Los Angeles and who is willing to stand up to the special trucking interests.

We don’t need more roads. What we do need is less traffic all at the same time. Trucks making deliveries at night, as they do in some major cities in Europe, would be a good first step. Financial incentives to increase car pooling and staggered work hours while increasing public transportation are all additional helpful steps.

No, Mr. Katz, your proposal is not only silly and unrealistic, it is also counterproductive and adds fuel to the fire instead of trying to quench it. Realization of a bad idea, no matter how cheap, is never a bargain.

SYLVAIN FRIBOURG

Woodland Hills