Future of Transit in Los Angeles

As a white, English-speaking 55-year-old female who rides the MTA daily, I am a minority. As an individual who does not hesitate to speak out when drivers refuse to make scheduled stops, act abusively toward passengers and look the other way when youths sit in seats specifically reserved for the elderly, I am a minority. And as someone who truly believes in the value of using public transportation now, I often feel I am a lone voice in the wilderness.

The L.A. public transportation system does work. The majority of drivers are courteous, friendly and often provide me with what amounts to a spiritual experience as I traverse the city. But newer, less-experienced (and less well-paid) drivers have no commitment to the system. Why should they? In the last two weeks alone, I have been on three buses that have broken down. The majority of the 350,000 riders aren’t interested in better public transportation: They want to own cars. Reorganization of the MTA or the shutdown of construction of the Red Line isn’t going to solve the fundamental belief that in L.A. status is measured by ownership of a car.

RUTH KRAMER ZIONY, Los Angeles

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While I agree that the MTA should not embark on new subway projects, I object to the notion that no further light rail projects should be considered, mainly because I don’t see how buses alone will be able to move people effectively when they have to make long trips in congested areas.

While a dense network of rail lines such as New York’s subway system may never be a practical possibility for our region, there is a place for a sparser network of light rail. Even if we don’t all go downtown to work in the morning, there still are definite centers of business and entertainment to which rail transit lines would be extremely useful.

The really sad aspect of the transit debate is that no one seems to consider the merits or uses of transit beyond getting commuters to work. For example, has anyone ever considered a rail line to Venice Beach? This notion may seem laughable in view of the MTA’s current fiscal plight, but the benefits would be immense. Not only would it provide considerable relief from the congestion experienced by the Westside, but it would bring the beach within easy reach of a great many people who do not live close to it. As preposterous as the idea of a train to the beach may sound, it is just this sort of tunnel vision that will ensure the continued decline in quality of life as we become more and more car-bound and traffic-tied.

JAMES VAN SCOYOC, Los Angeles