Transit is about time, money

Re “L.A., O.C. still have the worst traffic,” Sept. 19

With the population estimated to be nearly 13 million in the Los Angeles-Orange County area, the 72 extra hours each driver spends in traffic translates into several hundred million dollars in lost economic activities annually. Isn’t it time to plan for a workable public transit system to get some of the drivers off the streets? It appears that the entire cost for constructing an extensive transportation system would likely be compensated for by the increase in productivity within a decade. Add to that reductions in frustration, greenhouse gases, oil imports and road rage -- whatever cost the projects entail would be worth it.

John T. Chiu

Newport Beach

--

The assumptions made by the Texas Transportation Institute are severely flawed. My 19-mile commute from Long Beach to Torrance is rather modest compared to what many people endure. The drive is 28 minutes when traffic is flowing at the speed limit. During rush hour it takes at least 50 minutes. That’s 44 minutes wasted each workday for the round trip, or 183 hours per year (assuming 50 workweeks). This does not include time lost during any other excursion.

The 72 hours quoted in the study is pure folly for the typical Southern Californian.

Brian Asher

Long Beach

--

The Texas study has spoken the truth. I live in Irvine, and we do not have good public transportation.

What a shame that the governor and state lawmakers diverted $1.3 billion in transportation funds to other uses in the new budget. I am so irate. When will the governor and state lawmakers begin to think about their constituents’ well-being and not their own selfish motives?

Geeta Sikand

Irvine