By David Alsabery Santa Monica
What is the most expensive, silly way to get from one side of an earthquake zone to another? If you guessed underground railroad, aka a Subway, you are right. The most successful mass transit system in the Los Angeles area has always been found at Disneyland and it is called the Monorail. That’s right, its fun, quiet, above ground, a joy to ride and 100 times cheaper to build. Walt Disney World, that’s the resort with over 14 miles of monorail track that safely carries upwards of 100,000 — 200,000 passengers a day at above 99 percent reliability. The Seattle Center Monorail, the only rail system in the USA that turns a profit each year, is not stuck in traffic, never has accidents with pedestrians or vehicles on the streets below it. Short term building cost and long term costs of maintaining a tunnel in Los Angeles makes the subway too expensive.
Who in their right mind would want to be underground for the next earthquake? The Westside needs mass transit now, and its not called the bus or a noisy train. It should take people from where they are to where they want to go. Anyone want to guess which lobby is still preventing the Metrorail from going to the airport? To make this a success, we simply need to do what is smart, fun, fast, cheap and easy, right above Santa Monica Boulevard. You know, the route where the old Red Car Line used to run.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 6, 2008. Read the original PDF.