Facts Slightly Off-Track

The Times editorial of Sept. 22, “Survey Useful, Not Definitive,” contained much useful information and well-reasoned argument about the state of public transit in Orange County. However, your characterization of the experiences of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, specifically with the Metro Blue Line, is not entirely accurate.

Your editorial lauds the Blue Line for making use of “existing track.” It is an appealing fantasy, the whole notion of modern trains riding the same rails as the old Red Cars.

The Blue Line was in fact built along a right-of-way obtained from the Southern Pacific Railroad, a legacy of the old Los Angeles-to-Long Beach interurban abandoned in 1961. But every track and piece of tie was laid down from scratch between 1985 and 1990 specifically for the use of the line. Several sections of the route are elevated across major intersections and freeways, an engineering feat never achieved by the old Red Cars. All this construction cost a tidy $877 million; arguably a buy for the money but certainly not an instance of recycling an old piece of rusting infrastructure.

The coverage by The Times of public transportation issues in Los Angeles and Orange Counties has in general been exemplary. Here’s hoping that any factual lapses will continue to be the exception and not the rule.

DONALD A. STANWOOD

Santa Ana