Elevated Rail Line Is the Best Option

The Times’ editorial “Keeping the Red Line Decision on Track” (May 9) makes both good and bad points about the east-west San Fernando Valley rail line.

First, I support The Times’ opposition to Sen. Rosenthal’s legislation prohibiting construction of mass transit along freeways without costly modifications. This is an obstructionist attempt to satisfy a small group of NIMBYs at the expense of commuters and San Fernando Valley residents who supported the monorail over the subway by a 5-1 margin in the June, 1990, referendum.

A study released in January concludes that a monorail will save more than $1 billion, be built in less time and attract more riders than the twice-defeated subway option. Such substantial savings cannot be discounted, especially in view of the “black Friday” announcement by Metropolitan Transit Authority officials of a $2.9-billion shortfall in the next 10 years of the MTA 30-year plan.

The Times, however, errs in the suggestion to extend the subway through half of the Valley and then explore an at-grade system through the West Valley to Warner Center. This proposal will truly divide the Valley, offering residents east of Sepulveda an underground system and parking lots within their neighborhoods, while those on the west side of the Valley will receive noisy, steel on steel, at-grade trains with dangerous crossings.

The aerial freeway line addresses all the issues by providing a pollution-free, aesthetically pleasing monorail within the existing transit corridor that also stretches transit dollars in the most equitable way possible.

MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

County Supervisor

5th District