Members of Congress to L.A.: Do You Really Want the Westside Subway?

While it would be nice to be able to take light rail to the Westside I do question how many people would use it consistently.
I think the downtown regional connector could be the best thing to happen if it's done right--but being done right may mean not in my lifetime.
I think the local members of congress have better insight into what will work and MTA is more than stupid NOT to listen to them. If the suggested projects are done with a minimum of delays and cost overruns I think congress might be more inclined to fund more projects.
To be honest, I tend to distrust anything the mayor recommends or actively supports.

The Westside extension is critical. People will use this. Last time I checked businesses weren't opening up shop in Inglewood, tourists weren't clamoring to see its views and the 35th had a few other issues to deal with.

It's just so horribly sad that we cannot FINALLY build the most crucial public transportation pieces that will FINALLY allow LA to rejoin the list of world cities that efficiently move the lion's share of its commuters and tourists.

It seems NO ONE has gotten the memo that EFFICIENCY for commuters and tourists= $$$$$$$$$$$!

Without building the following ASAP (where the biggest transportation nightmares are NOW), while completing EIR/EIS and securing funding and STOPPING THE BICKERING, we are just wasting our time on the FOLLY of rebuilding a comprehensive regional transportation network which was dismantled when the Red Cars PE Railway was destroyed:

1) Subway from Union Station ALL THE WAY to Santa Monica down Wilshire (Purple Line Extension)

2) West Hollywoood Spur from Hollywood and Highland to Purple Line Connection on Wilshire (Pink Line)

3) RE-PRIORITIZATION of a Light Rail down the 405 from the Valley into West LA (it's insanely ridiculous that there is nothing in the works now)

4) Fast-tracking of the Downtown Regional Connector so that all the current lines will be properly connected and transfers will be minimized, maximizing trip speeds and efficiency

Sure the other lines (Gold Line Extensions to the SGV and beyond, Crenshaw Line) are extremely vital, but this intense 'Regionalism' and 'Districtism' is so darn provincial and shortsighted, I don't even know what to say. It's really just pathetic.

Without serving the MOST DENSE TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE corridors on the Westside, Along Wilshire throughout the city, and from the Valley to the Westside, which ALL people in LA County and beyond will benefit from, any other rail plan is just downright unacceptable and Third World. I use the term 'plan' loosely because the joke here is that there is really no plan at all! pieces are built in a completely unintegrated fashion. This is why we always need to go back later and try to fix stupid stuff like completing the Green Line link to LAX and finally building a regional connector, which should have been integrated from the beginning.

LA County politicians, wake up and take a look around at other cities across the globe. They get things done, they work together, they work on 5-10 yr FAST TRACKS and build world class INTEGRATED systems. This piecemeal stuff is absolutely unacceptable--the glacial pace, lack of strategic integration and foresight is why Los Angeles County remains DOOMED. It's time to WAKE UP!!!

(Of course no one on the MTA Board, In Washington, or anywhere else is going to read this and/or listen to my suggestions/pleas, because it just makes TOO MUCH SENSE!!)...sad. sad. and...sad. I thought America was capable of greater achievement than this public works de-volution...We used to be so pragmatic and can-do, once the envy of the world in this department. Look how far we've fallen!
It's time to GET UP.