High-Speed Rail Is Here: No Need for Maglev

Re “Southland Debates the Merits of Magnetic Levitation,” March 30: I don’t understand how the planners at the Southern California Assn. of Governments can be pushing a maglev train for $80 million a mile when the existing solutions we have are so underfunded. Zahi Faranesh says that Metrolink isn’t getting people out of their cars in sufficient numbers? Well, maybe he and his colleagues should refer to another Times article, “Rail Line Seeks Fare Hike” (March 30), that notes that some Metrolink lines are so popular that there is standing room only. The same goes for many of the buses and trains run by the MTA.

Look to the future? How about getting on a bus or train and looking at the present? Los Angeles should be focusing its attention and money on building and supporting a transit system that actually works for most people -- fast, efficient and friendly. That would truly get us on par with all the other big urban cities of the world, not maglev.

Christian Peralta

Policy Analyst

Livable Places

Los Angeles

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Your article on maglev illustrates the importance of high-speed rail as California enters the 21st century. As a high-speed rail proponent, I’m appalled at those hijacking California’s future transportation efforts by forcing maglev technology on us. Traditional high-speed rail service (steel wheels on rail) is being expanded throughout the world. In contrast, maglev technology -- twice as expensive to build, bumpier yet no faster than traditional high-speed rail -- is rapidly losing support throughout the planet. China and Germany don’t want to expand their current maglev trains and are going with traditional high-speed rail. Shouldn’t California do the same?

Kenneth S. Alpern

President, Transit Coalition

Los Angeles

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My son rides the train every morning from Glendale to his magnet high school in Northridge. He loves the train. It beats taking the school bus both in terms of comfort and travel time. There is only one problem: The price: $6.25 one way, or $51.25 for a 10-trip ticket. They offer a “youth” category, but tickets are valid only during off-peak hours. That’s not the time you can show up in school.

They offer a discount to college students, but it doesn’t apply to high school students. Why? It should be everyone’s goal to increase ridership in public transportation, not reduce it with higher fares.

Ruth Honegger

Los Angeles