Rail Promises

William Fulton’s guest opinion article (“Valley Must Get Real on Rail,” June 29) is correct: The MTA is overextended. I also concur with your analysis that the MTA continues to make more empty promises (“What the MTA Needs Most Is Less Council Meddling,” Valley Edition Editorials, June 29).

What I don’t agree with is the assumption that the chairman mayor will be better than the board member mayor--who still possesses four votes and carries the same pro-subway baggage.

Mayor [Richard] Riordan, in his new role as MTA chairman, (“Change of Direction for the MTA,” June 30) has committed to end the empty promises. The mayor has said that he wants to halt expensive studies of rail lines that won’t be built for decades.

If he is sincere, the mayor could start by reconsidering some of his recent votes to advance the costly rail lines that he now disdains.

It is time for the mayor and the MTA board to pull the plug on subway extensions and support above-the-ground alternatives that will serve the 10 million residents living in our 88 cities and 137 county unincorporated communities throughout the 4,200 square miles of Los Angeles County.

MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

Supervisor, 5th District

Member, Metropolitan

Transportation Authority