Rail Debate Continues

The way things are shaping up, it’s unlikely we’ll see any kind of rail service in the San Fernando Valley in our lifetime. Neighborhood groups, worried about noise and declining property values, will fight an elevated rail system until hell freezes over, and then, assuming it ever gets approved, it will take many more years of construction and traffic jams before it is built.

The most practical plan for the east-west rail line through the Valley was one of the first to be considered--a ground-level line following the Chandler-Victory route using the rail line that currently exists.

This could be implemented at a much lower cost than any of the alternatives. It requires no massive construction projects, takes a route nearer to the center of the Valley and is more accessible to more people.

This route has always been the obvious choice, but it ran into early opposition from homeowners in the area. Whatever plan is adopted, someone’s neighborhood is going to feel its effects; let’s go for the most practical, least expensive system we can.

The justification for picking the elevated rail over the underground rail was that it was less expensive. The least expensive system, the one that will really save money, is to use the tracks that are already there.

ALAN KANTER

Encino