Light-Rail Line on Wrong Track?

* At the very end of the long news story hyping light rail, Bill Hodge, an Orange County Transportation Authority spokesman, was quoted as saying “In 20 years, [light rail] may be the only way to get around quickly in this area” (“New Legs for Light Rail,” Dec. 6).

Anything is possible, but Hodge’s hyperbole is not supported by the facts.

Over the last 10 years, the OCTA has spent more than $10 million on rail studies, and in every case, light rail would not reduce traffic congestion and its collateral effect, air pollution.

To the contrary, the Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana professional staffs have rejected rail because it would make traffic congestion worse.

WAYNE KING

Santa Ana

* Regarding your piece on the proposed light-rail project moving to Bristol Street in lieu of Main Street, you interviewed one business owner who stated he was glad the train route was moved away from Main Street, and he wants the Bristol Street residents to fight it too. You could have picked a more objective person to interview since he owns an auto repair shop.

Maybe his customers would use the light-rail to come pick up their cars (since they were being fixed), and he would have a boom in business. With the train line’s move, maybe some car repair shops on Bristol will pick up all that new “train” business.

For your article, you could have interviewed a more objective person for their willingness to take a train, like someone on jury duty. You could have interviewed me, as I sat in my car to and from the courthouse.

BRUCE E. KONSCHUH

Fullerton