Get wheels rolling on subway

In 1985, a clothing store exploded and went up in flames in the
Fairfax district. Since then, the prospect of a subway running from
downtown Los Angeles to Westwood has disappeared.

The explosion ““ fueled by underground methane gas ““
spurred a federal funding ban on subways introduced by a local
congressman. The incident occurred 20 years ago, but to this day it
is a roadblock to extending the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority’s Red Line subway to Westwood.

In a city known for its notorious traffic, Los Angeles has
limited public transportation coverage. This explosion, along with
missed opportunities four decades earlier, has lead to the
situation we face today.

In the late 1960s, there was a plan to build an 89-mile-long
rail rapid transit network. The system, which consisted of five
lines radiating out of downtown Los Angeles, would have served Long
Beach, West Los Angeles, the South Bay and the San Gabriel and San
Fernando Valleys. But in the November 1968 election, voters
rejected Proposition A, the $2.5 billion bond measure that would
have financed construction of the rail lines and the complementary
feeder bus system.

Interestingly, on the same day L.A. voters rejected Proposition
A, voters in Maryland and Virginia approved a $214 million bond to
help finance a similar $2.5 billion rail network in Washington,
D.C. Today, the Metrorail is a 106.3-mile high capacity rail system
serving two states and the U.S. capital. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles,
the Red Line subway spans a mere 17.4 miles.

Los Angeles missed an opportunity to implement its own rapid
transit plan, and decisions made nearly 40 years ago have had a
profound impact on the development of rapid transit in the city. It
is true that despite the initial setback, most of the corridors
identified in the 1968 plan did eventually get some sort of
transportation improvement, ranging from subways to busways. Still,
37 years later, West Los Angeles has yet to see a major
transportation improvement.

But this problem is beginning to gain some attention. Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa brought up rapid transit in West Los Angeles
during his election campaign. He talked about “(extending)
the Wilshire Red Line out to the beach,” suggesting a subway
reaching as far as Santa Monica. In fact there has been renewed
interest in the topic of continuing the Red Line along Wilshire
Boulevard. There is currently a proposal to extend the Red Line
westward from its terminus at Western Avenue.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of hurdles in extending the
subway. Taking advantage of financial mismanagement and
construction mishaps during the subway construction, Supervisor
Mike Antonovich introduced a proposition to ban subway construction
financed by local sales tax revenue. The proposition was passed by
voters in 1998. Federal funding for construction is also banned.
When the 1985 explosion occurred at the corner of Fairfax Avenue
and 3rd Street, Congressman Henry Waxman introduced the law to ban
federal funding for subways. He was concerned the area was unsafe
for tunneling.

However, today with advancements in tunneling technology, the
issue of methane gas appears to be irrelevant. Last Thursday, an
independent panel brought together by the MTA determined that
extending the Red Line along Wilshire Boulevard would not pose a
safety risk. Waxman, whose congressional district includes UCLA,
stated in October that he would look into lifting the federal ban
if the panel deems construction in the area is safe. He should
honor his word and repeal the ban. Perhaps he needs a reminder from
his constituents.

Removing the funding ban would bring the Red Line one step
closer to the ocean, an extension sorely needed to alleviate the
traffic mess we endure in West Los Angeles. With a new travel
option in the area, traffic along the 10 Freeway and Wilshire
Boulevard could be alleviated, as commuters would not have to rely
solely on automobiles.

Traffic gridlock in Los Angeles isn’t going away on its
own. Los Angeles had a chance to build alternative transportation
but failed to do so. We need to get started on building a better
public transit system to address current and future traffic
problems. Are we going to endure another 40 years of gridlock to
preserve the status quo of everybody driving here, or are we going
to do something about it?

Let’s start by removing the subway construction ban in the
Fairfax district, so the Red Line can come toward the West
Side.

E-mail Kroells at [email protected]. Send general
comments to [email protected].