Diversion of Subway Route

The Citizens for the Wilshire Metro Rail strongly supports returning the Metro Rail to Wilshire Boulevard.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) stated that “I think it is possible to tunnel safely and have no accidents, but it’s also possible there will be a terrible tragedy. I just don’t see any reason to take that chance.” Waxman’s analysis grossly overstates the risks and disregards the benefits of the Wilshire alignment. With respect to the methane risk, as stated in the accompanying article, the “technology for preventing natural gas explosions during tunneling is highly developed and relatively easy to implement. . . .”

The primary benefit of the Wilshire alignment is that it will get many more people out of their cars than would the Pico Boulevard alignment. A Metro Rail under Wilshire Boulevard would allow thousands of people to walk to and from work and to commute to cultural attractions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The same cannot be said for the Pico/San Vicente station, which is primarily a park-and-ride facility.

The citizens of Los Angeles deserve a Metro Rail system that fights our air pollution. Waxman should get out of the way and let the people of Los Angeles decide what is best for them.

LARRY W. McFARLAND, President