By David Alsabery Santa Monica
The light rail article (SMDP, Nov. 23, page 1) points out once again how we will waste money on another bad train. I love trains and have used them around the world. To make a train work in LA is obvious. Connect people with where they are to where they want to go.
To put a train underground in Los Angeles is expensive and stupid. These are the same people that decided to have the train stop two miles from LAX?
For decades people paid to ride on the monorail at Disneyland. How about a monorail with big windows? We have great weather. Why not above ground?
How about connect the airport to Santa Monica and Long Beach first? That way the tourists and travelers support the train. Then run it above the freeways since they go to most of the places we want to go and have a bus or taxi take us from that point. Imagine if a tourist or local could get off of a plane, go from LAX to Santa Monica, shop on Third Street, board a train that runs down Santa Monica Boulevard to Century City, shop some more, then go to Beverly Hills and shop some more, all without a car or bus. Ever heard of the Red Car?
I would venture to say a well designed system starting from LAX would generate a profit and pay for expansions via the Sepulveda Pass to the Valley. Maybe have Disney pitch in for a train from LAX to Disneyland.
The MTA must start from LAX and branch out from it. The MTA must think about making a system that meets our needs and pays for itself. We do not need another underground billion dollar connection from Parker Center to MacArthur Park.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 1, 2004. Read the original PDF.