Proposals for Building New Bullet Train

The “Ray of Hope for Commuters” editorial (Feb. 11) needs a major correction about the proposed Super Speed Train (SST) between Anaheim and Las Vegas.

Three international firms are competing to build a privately funded high-speed train between Southern California and Nevada. A major criterion for evaluation will be each firm’s use of the SST for transporting commuters from the Inland Empire to Anaheim.

Apparently, The Times has missed the linkage between the various Orange County monorail proposals and the western terminus of the Super Speed Train in Anaheim.

Local government officials such as Mayor Dan Young of Santa Ana, Mayor Peter Buffa of Costa Mesa, Mayor Fred Hunter of Anaheim, Mayor Larry Agran of Irvine, and Mayor Don Smith of Orange to mention a few, have shown leadership in proposing a series of community monorail projects that will link with the Super Speed Train and Amtrak stations at Anaheim Stadium.

The suggestion that the SST is a “gambler’s special” further helps foster misinformation about the value of a privately funded Super Speed Train, which travels at a speed in excess of 300 m.p.h. You apparently have also failed to note the measurable reductions in auto trips between Southern California and Las Vegas or the 17% reduction in energy requirements of gasoline-driven automobiles by substituting electricity for gas-polluting engines because of the train. Tourism is California’s second-largest industry and one of Orange County’s most important businesses.

A monorail linkage with the SST is a major ray of hope for Inland Empire and Orange County commuters--and for the tourist industry--and for the millions of Southern Californians and Nevadans who for one reason or another regularly visit the other region.

DON R. ROTH

Chairman

Orange County Board of Supervisors