Opinions Vary on ‘Maglev’ Viability for L.A. Area

* “Maglev” is wonderful, the only problem is it just doesn’t seem to work [“ ‘Maglev’ and L.A.’s Needs May Be on Opposite Poles,” James Flanigan on Southern California, Oct. 4].

Your article was clear, concise, factual and accurate--all the things elected officials don’t seem to care about.

So what if Germany and Japan refuse to fund these transit projects, why should that stop us? After all, what do those two countries know about technical things?

Doesn’t it just blow your mind that we would go chase $980 million because it’s there, when we will have to come up with another $4 billion?

HAROLD L. KATZ

West Los Angeles

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* When are the transportation “experts” going to wake up to the fact that the only way to get around in L.A. is by that most hated bane of modern existence, the automobile? It offers everyone the most flexible form of transportation imaginable at a reasonable cost.

Seems to me they could take that $6 billion, fix the freeways and buy each low-income family a new car.

GARY WOODWARD

Sunland

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* As a frequent air traveler between Los Angeles and San Francisco, I can assure you air travel does not serve either region well.

Predictable cancellations, boarding and take-off delays, and crowded runways that result in further delays in approaching the gate do not add up to a clientele well-served.

I think we both know that air travel between Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco is very rarely without one or all of the above occurrences. Please remember this in your next article about the development of a potential improvement in intrastate travel.

DIANA WENDLING

Los Angeles

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* While I share Mr. Flanigan’s skepticism that the proposed magnetic levitation system may not be the best use of our transportation resources, he neglected to mention a viable alternative that is already partly in place.

The Slauson rail right-of-way currently used by Burlington Northern-Santa Fe will soon be underutilized once the Alameda Corridor is completed. This route cuts diagonally across Los Angeles from LAX to Union Station.

Instead of investing in costly, unproved Maglev technology, it would be much cheaper and faster to construct double-tracked, fully grade separated Metrolink service between these two busy transportation hubs.

MATT KELLY

Los Feliz