Concrete vs. Steel

According to the opinions of your Jan. 1 letter writers, the way to relieve traffic congestion is to add freeways or lanes to existing freeways. Indeed, doubling the width of a freeway from its current dimension of perhaps 800 feet to 1,600 feet will double its capacity. To double a commuter train’s capacity, double the number of cars in the train or halve the interval between trains. Which alternative is less expensive, less disruptive and a whole lot easier on our nerves, our lungs and the climate? Los Angeles, which in so many ways leads the world into the 21st century, remains a century behind other cities in getting its residents from their homes to their places of employment.

David Perlman

Laguna Beach