A Better Solution

February 12, 2007

Dear Editor,

I completely agree with Frank Gruber that some type of connection needs to be made between the Valley and Westwood, but I question the potential success of a 405 busway for a couple of reasons. (see column)

First, I have little confidence that the 405 HOV lanes will be moving smoothly a few years into operation, even if our government banned hybrids that use them.

Second, to be effective a 405 bus would have to get off the freeway and serve the work locations -- meaning the line will be forced to maneuver through horrendous street traffic. Like many, I've been caught in the unfortunate predicament where I had to travel from Wilshire/Westwood to the Wilshire 405 on-ramp during rush hour and lets just say I could have crawled faster.

A better solution is to differ the extension from Westwood to Santa Monica Pier for a few years, and to first turn the Purple line subway north after it reaches Wilshire/Westwood with stations at UCLA, Getty Center, Sherman Oaks Galleria, Van Nuys/Ventura, Van Nuys/Magnolia and at the Van Nuys Orange Line station.

The northern diversion would not only add more popular destinations to transit travelers, including the westside's second greatest traffic generator (UCLA), but it would be a very popular transportation alternative to many San Fernando Valley residents. The Purple line extension could earn valuable political support from Valley residents and politicians who are currently opposed to the line or on the fence.

If Los Angeles planned it's rail lines as pieces of a master plan instead of as individual political pet projects this northward route would be a no-brainer. As anyone who has traveled the Sepulveda Pass during rush hour can attest, a significant portion of the congestion on the westside is created by residents crossing the hill.

By being able to transport citizens from Ventura Blvd to Westwood in 8 to 10 minutes, the subway isn't just a viable alternative for motorists, it's multiple times faster! That high level of speed by a rail line is how you replace Valley cars on westside streets with Valley people on westside sidewalks.

Additionally, the increased public transit usage the Purple line northern diversion would create throughout the San Fernando Valley would lead to more public support for investments in mass transit across the region and we could then complete the extension of the Wilshire line extension from Westwood to Santa Monica Pier, and likely connect the gap between Westwood and LAX - thereby creating a true Van Nuys Blvd/405 subway line from Van Nuys to the South Bay.

It is true that the bulk of construction costs in tunneling is in the stations, but open-air stations, like the Memorial Park Gold line station, are a fraction of the cost of typical subway stations and they likely could be used for the 405 subway line if it straddles the eastern shoulder of the 405 freeway.

Sincerely,

Damien Goodmon
Primary Author of the Get L.A. Moving Plan
GetLAMoving.com