Money for Trains or for Fixing Streets?

Would you prefer more trains or having the potholes in the road filled? As reported in the newspaper, even with ridership on the Ventura County Line down last year, the politicians and bureaucrats plan to spend $13.7 million more on county train stations. Less than half of the present trains’ $8-million yearly operating expenses is covered by fares. This means each time a passenger boards a train, the taxpayers are subsidizing the ticket.

There is no question the trains are a great convenience for those few who work a short distance from a train station. I believe the millions of dollars spent on trains could be put to better use in repairing the county highways and roads that are deplorable and in desperate need of repair. No matter how the politicians and bureaucrats manipulate the numbers, their claim that trains relieve the freeways is nonsense.

Now they are going to spend $200,000 more of the taxpayers’ money to do a random poll of about 26,800 households as to why they don’t use, or stopped using, the trains. That is a no-brainer--it is because the trains do not go when and where the people want/need to go. Just send me my $7.46 for participation in the poll.

Please note that the numbers mentioned apply only to the Ventura County Line. However, many millions/billions of taxpayer dollars more are spent on Metrolink and other California trains with the same results.

Don Hollingsworth

Camarillo