Readers React: Letters: Gridlocking L.A. for better transit

Re “Nightmare scenario?,” March 29

Metro’s plans to tear up parts of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, along with surrounding streets, will cause extraordinary around-the-clock disruption to countless residents and drivers. Imagine intersections at Fairfax Avenue, La Cienega Boulevard and Beverly Drive obstructed for months on end.

I served on a volunteer citizens committee years ago to analyze the Westside extension project. Metro representatives met with us numerous times to promote the project. In response to our specific questions, they told us that busy intersections would be slightly disrupted only for a few weekends. There was nothing about months-long disruptions or 24/7 work.

In the face of these misrepresentations and Beverly Hills’ attempts to mitigate these impacts, L.A. County Supervisor Zev has the effrontery to threaten to sue us. Unbelievable.

Ken Goldman

Beverly Hills

Los Angeles can no longer continue in the mode of “one person, one automobile.”

Yes, construction will cause plenty of inconvenience for nearby business owners and residents. But think of the temporary slowdown this way: Could you imagine San Francisco without the Muni?

If our friends in Beverly Hills want to obstruct the Purple Line, the state and county ought to take them to court. Let’s get started on bringing this project to fruition.

Daniel Stutz

Atwater Village

The article mentions the constant “beep-beep-beep of backing trucks.” The National Academy of Engineering has cited backup beepers as one of the top six noise sources people associate with behavioral and emotional consequences.

Noiseless alternatives to backup beepers have existed for years, including cameras, but beepers are used because they are inexpensive.

Washington state established a requirement for a spotter at all times who alerts the driver of pedestrians. We should urge our elected officials to follow Washington’s lead.

I’ve lived with the noise of backup beepers for two years; it’s brutal. The Miracle Mile activists mentioned in the article are correct in saying that the noise “would condemn thousands of residents to nine years of living hell.”

Thomas Mann

Pasadena

The article notes that one homeowner “awoke at 3 a.m. to the yells of workers and the beep-beep-beep of backing trucks.” Welcome to the last three years of construction on the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles.

Joe Hilberman

Westwood

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