Differing Routes for Freeway Fixes

Re “Ventura Freeway Plan Sparks Outcry in Valley,” May 13: Funny how a few people living along the 101 Freeway feel they can force hundreds of thousands of people a day to suffer in gridlock because they were foolish enough to buy property next to the freeway. The state should immediately enact its power of eminent domain and take all the property along the 101 Freeway to begin adding multiple lanes in both directions and over the hill along the 405 Freeway. The state of California should not stop there; it should take the land needed to build the originally intended freeway along Reseda Boulevard going over the hill.

Traffic would flow smoothly for years to come if only the politicians would stand up for the rights of many. Why so many should suffer for a few people who didn’t have the foresight to see the freeway coming is beyond me.

Paul Castro

Sylmar

*

Why can’t the rail right of way, which roughly parallels the 101 Freeway only a few blocks north of it, be used as a reliever of the 101 Freeway, or even be rejuvenated as a light-rail system?

It is clearly shown on my AAA street map. At its east end it runs along Chandler Boulevard, then swings north across Oxnard Street and runs west alongside Victory Boulevard at the north side of the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, then back south to run between Oxnard and Topham streets. The rusted rails are still there.

This would save the uprooting of a lot of homeowners from the widening of the 101 Freeway.

Richard A. Davidson

Woodland Hills

*

Why not simply add a top deck to the present 101 Freeway, thereby doubling the traffic lanes? Each deck’s traffic would move in opposite directions from the other deck’s traffic.

Chuck Little

Tarzana