Plans for an East-West Busway

* Rabbi Aron Tendler makes an impassioned plea to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to abandon its plan for a high-speed busway on the Burbank-Chandler railroad right of way. (“At Rosh Hashanah, a Prayer for Keeping a Jewish Community Intact,” Oct. 1).

This land was designated for mass rail transit when it was purchased a decade ago. Since a subway, which would disrupt the community least, is no longer feasible, by far the next best alternative is light rail.

Light rail cars carry far more people than buses, and that means fewer trips and fewer transit vehicles crossing streets.

The unexpected success of the Red Line subway proves that commuters like rail service. Modern light rail service is quiet and the landscaping that would accompany it would make Chandler Boulevard far more attractive than the trash-littered dusty strip that it is now.

The inconvenience to families moving into an area where a rail line had existed for decades is far outweighed by the entire San Fernando Valley’s need for east-west rapid transit service.

JOHN F. GLASS

Studio City