The facts about Red Line safety

Re “Some Green for the Red Line,” editorial, Dec. 23

Your editorial questioned my motives in passing the 1985 restrictions on Metro Rail and distorts the record. The recently released report of safety experts did not, as The Times claims, dismiss the legitimacy of past concerns about tunneling safely through the methane high risk area.

To the contrary, the report notes: “The panel concurred as well that in 1985, the decision to hold further tunneling in abeyance was prudent, given the circumstances and extent of information and technology at that time. Much has changed since then to significantly improve tunneling and operation safety.”

REP. HENRY A. WAXMAN

(D-Los Angeles)