Easing Traffic From Riverside

The fact that Riverside and Orange Counties have met to discuss the issue of a new freeway is very encouraging (“Riverside County, O.C. Discuss New Freeway Link,” Aug. 29).

This is a vital opportunity to seriously assess the future needs of both counties.

Cutting through the Cleveland National Forest is a serious matter. However, if March Air Force Base is to grow as an international airport for Southern California, alleviating existing freeway congestion is essential.

This is also an opportunity to cut high-speed rail through this route. It would require less area than a freeway. However, if a freeway is planned in the future, I would hope that rail would be included down the center.

Forget about worrying about loss of revenue on Orange County toll roads. They would not be affected, but the Riverside Freeway might be.

Riverside officials realize that this may be their only alternative to a toll road that is holding them hostage.

MARY SCHWARTZ

Santa Ana

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The residents of Riverside need to remember that they chose to live in Riverside. Just because they work in Orange County doesn’t give them the right to force a road through a national forest.

If they are unhappy about their commute, maybe they should consider alternatives such as taking the train, telecommuting from home or looking for work in Riverside.

It’s interesting that while a Metrolink ticket costs more than the 91 toll road, one is gaining in popularity and the other is stagnating. Metrolink now runs 12 trains daily on the route.

The commute from Corona to Irvine takes about 45 minutes on the train and up to 90 minutes by car. Why build more roads when there are alternatives?

JULIA DEWEES

San Clemente