Freeways, Trains and Transportation Funds

The dissertation by Prof. James E. Moore II, “Fix the Freeways Before Funding Trains” (Jan. 25), proves that one can be a college professor and still be wrong.

Did not the good professor notice that, after cleaning up one derailment caused by our recent earthquake, rail service was restored and expanded (within days) to the gratitude of thousands of commuters while their automobile-bound brethren will be discombobulated for months to come?

The professor also admits that occasional freeway failures are a statistical certainty, since no structure is earthquake-proof. This means that it is also a statistical certainty that auto commuters will suffer in the future because of said failures.

Metrolink’s flexibility and durability should be a wake-up call for Mr. Moore. Instead, he calls for more of the same decisions that have proven to be detrimental to commuters. I note that his expertise is in the fields of urban and regional planning and civil engineering, both of which were major contributors to the costs of the latest earthquake.

I would be elated if I had the opportunity to ride a train to and from work, and don’t understand why anyone would rather drive a car on a dangerous, crowded, stinking freeway unless forced to. Hopefully, businesses will see the advantages of switching employees to mass transit before gridlock and government do it for them.

CHUCK NYQUIST

Garden Grove