Bus Corridors in the Valley

* When we read about the “surprising” state funding for a north-south busway corridor (“With Funding in Place, Valley Debates North-South Busway,” July 10), what is not mentioned is that it is $100 million stolen from the east-west corridor whose original $245 million has been reduced to $145 million and now has funding for only half the project.

When Sen. Richard Alarcon says, “It is hard to train car users to get out of a car to use a mass-transit system,” he hasn’t seen the North Hollywood Red Line station’s 846-space parking lot, full every weekday on only the second week of operation.

Serving the transit-dependant is a primary function, but the taxpayers of Los Angeles County voted twice for a first-class system that will lure people out of their cars and appeal to all strata. Any attempt to get matching federal funds will have to prove that the project can produce “new riders.” The east-west corridor . . . will serve the transit-dependant, reformed single-occupant vehicle drivers and the already maxed-out North Hollywood and Universal lots.

ROGER CHRISTENSEN

Sherman Oaks

At first blush, the transportation money for the San Fernando Valley sounds good (“Local Legislators Steer Transportation Funds From State to Valley,” June 24). Improving the freeways, existing bus system and surface streets makes sense. Establishing a new busway on the old rail right of way doesn’t. The rail right of way doesn’t follow existing or new transportation patterns and will be minimally used. This will not relieve traffic congestion. Hundreds of homes and businesses will be negatively impacted forever. Instead, the right of way could immediately be put to use as a bikeway, walkway, equestrian trail and greenbelt. This plan could be one of the Valley’s greatest assets and improve our quality of life for generations.

PHILLIP CARTER

Encino