Red Line Ridership

I am glad to read that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority [is] “Ironing Out Wrinkles in Parking” (July 15) at the North Hollywood station. I drove up and down the complete parking lot on July 11, including the smaller lot on the other side, without success. I couldn’t get on the train for that reason.

On July 13, we tried again, by car-pooling, and got lucky because a car was pulling out.

I am under the impression that this parking lot is being used by the whole neighborhood because it’s there and it’s “free.” Whether signs will do any good is questionable. I think that everybody who wants to park there should be requested to buy a token of some sort to be refunded for a discounted return ticket on the train or something equivalent. It is human nature to take what is available whether one is permitted to do so or not. The train is wonderful and the connections are great. I am planning to take the train more often just for shopping and hope that the parking problem can be solved soon.

ANNELIESE OHLER

North Hollywood

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Your July 16 editorial speculates that the overwhelmingly positive response to the Red Line’s San Fernando Valley extension might be a “novelty” (“Keep Transit Progress on Track”). Well, novelty indeed!

What could be more novel than traveling between the Valley and downtown at over 55 mph during the height of rush-hour? What could be more novel for Valley residents than being able to predict their arrival time in Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire or downtown with split-second accuracy? What could be more novel in L.A. than free parking? And what could be more novel in L.A. than safe, clean, pleasant, speedy, reliable, economical and environemtally friendly public transportation?

This week [of July 14] marked the 10th anniversary of the Blue Line light rail service between downtown and Long Beach. The only novelty that has worn off for the 60,000-plus travelers who crowd that facility beyond capacity each day is the novelty of easilly finding a seat on the train or a parking space at the stations, a dillema that is also becoming reality on many of our new Metro Link commuter rail lines.

How about the naysayers just joining with the riders to declare victory and set about giving L.A. residents more of what they clearly want and need?

EDWARD McSPEDON

West Hills