For and Against Light Rail Study
* Congratulations to the Orange County Transportation Authority for doing the right thing and authorizing a preliminary engineering study for light rail from Fullerton to Irvine (“Light Rail Engineering Plan on Track,” Oct. 28).
The Fullerton-to-Irvine corridor contains the highest concentration of jobs and population in the county. Population is projected to increase 22% and jobs 70% by 2020. Present freeways will be overwhelmed unless we continue to provide more transportation capacity.
There is no place for a new freeway in this corridor. Any such project would require the approval of every city and take so much land it would decimate neighborhoods.
In contrast, a rail line would require minimal right of way. A rail line would put in place a transportation system, the rails, cars and traffic controls.
Light rail makes sense for this corridor. Bravo OCTA.
FLORENCE CAVILEER
Fullerton
* On Oct. 27, the Orange County Transportation Authority board of directors approved spending $6 million on a preliminary engineering study on a light rail system.
Back in June, the board voted that if the federal government does not give OCTA $3.2 million for the study, OCTA should stop light rail in Orange County.
Then why did OCTA approve spending $6 million without knowing that the federal government will give the money?
GARY A. MUDGE
Garden Grove
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
