In Rail System, Think About Need

* Charles Willits’ April 26 thoughts on Orange County light rail provoke a number of responses, chief of which is, what would his “suspended light rail” system look like over Ball Road or Harbor Boulevard?

Like Willits, I am worried that the major design and location decisions have already been made by people considering only what has been done elsewhere, not what is really needed or cost effective.

The following practices of systems engineering should always be applied to major transit projects:

* Approaching the problem objectively. The need is to move people quickly and efficiently, not to build a light rail line per se. Many modes are candidates. Welcome ideas from outsiders who have made sorely needed paradigm shifts.

* Evaluating alternatives rigorously, using defensible trade-off methods.

* Designing and building the selected system with a good “architect,” who can tie the mission, method and outcome together to obtain excellent results.

Also, emphasize the vehicles, not the stations. Stations should be pleasant, but not great works of art. And design the vehicles with automobiles as the standard of comfort. Remember who the competition is.

Costly infrastructure should have multiple uses, such as sharing of tunnels and viaducts by utilities and other transportation providers, like parcel delivery.

If any of these legs is weak for Orange County, the transit planners should stop and start over, because the really great mistakes are made on the first day.

ROBERT P. SECHLER

Cypress