Light-Rail Plan Is Way Off Track

* The article “Bills and Doubts on Light-Rail Plan Both Adding Up” (Aug. 8) points out the weakness and deficiencies of the proposed Orange County Transportation Authority light-rail project.

In addition to the shortfall of funds for the construction of the system, there would be a shortfall for the operating costs.

Fares would only cover a fraction of these costs. The rest, 70% to 80%, would have to be subsidized through an extension of Measure M taxes or come out of the county’s General Fund.

The OCTA needs to come off its mantra that they have a mandate via Measure M to build a light-rail system. The ballot text of Measure M, passed in 1990, makes no mention of light rail.

Their call for providing other transportation options requires more imagination. They could, for example, include the use of jitneys (private van buses) that would provide fast, convenient and flexible service for commuters with very little cost to the taxpayer.

This system is used in many cities around the world and is now being implemented in Chicago. The citizens of Orange County deserve a transportation system that makes sense and is financially responsible.

ERWIN ANISMAN

Rossmoor

* In the Aug. 8 article, a few numbers might help to gain a proper perspective.

You might have mentioned that 62,000 riders is only 31,000 people. Not many people ride one way.

In terms of today’s traffic this would amount to fewer than 4% of the vehicles carried by the 5 and 405 freeways; yet this is the estimate for 2020, when traffic will certainly be much greater, and the effect will be much less visible.

So much for reducing traffic and congestion.

A. TRUJILLO ESCARENO

Tustin