Unused Rail Line Perfect for MTA

* On April 1 you had a story on the unending saga of local mass transit, which is awaiting completion of further studies before any action can be taken. It dealt with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s lack of action securing federal fundings for a Valley rail line.

Even if action is taken by the MTA, it will be years before those of us who battle the Ventura Freeway in our daily struggle to get from home to work will see anything for the West Valley.

Why should we wait any longer? There is a perfectly good rail line that connects Chatsworth to Warner Center in Woodland Hills and from Warner Center parallels the Ventura Freeway all the way to Burbank. MTA already owns the tracks, and they are unused. Metrolink could be operating trains on this line tomorrow. As demonstrated by the quick action by Metrolink officials and others, the construction of brand-new Metrolink stations took only three to 12 days to complete after the Jan. 17 earthquake.

This is not happening because MTA wants to keep the right of way for a possible-maybe- someday light rail line. Light rail is not the answer anyway. Speeds are limited to 55 m.p.h., whereas Metrolink trains reach speeds of 79 m.p.h. today and have the potential of 110 m.p.h. with proper upgrades to the roadbed and installation of grade separations.

EDWARD J. SIMBURGER

Agoura