Monorail

The Times did it again. The Sept. 10 article suggesting that the “monorail” would only be $19 million less than the “subway” is misleading. It is true that a hybrid “subway” would cost less to build than originally expected. However, it would be an alignment that is not environmentally approved and is contrary to every promise made to the residents of the San Fernando Valley for a deep-bore subway through residential neighborhoods.

The San Fernando Valley was assured a full Valley transit system that will take us into the 21st Century, not an unsightly open trench “ditch” that will divide neighborhoods, destroying the communities we are trying to preserve. This interpretation of “subway” will surely invite crime, graffiti and the potential of life-threatening accidents. This latest scheme is just another attempt to discount the quarter-billion-dollar difference between the environmentally approved versions of monorail and subway, with no attention being paid to providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing transit system for the entire Valley.

The subway experience for the MTA has been a nightmare; the recent problems of Hollywood, the problems along Mid-Wilshire, Hill Street and 7th Street all prove that the underground rail construction program in Los Angeles is seriously flawed. This contributes to the agency’s near bankruptcy and growing liability.

WILLIAM J. KOREK

Van Nuys