July 24, 2008
Light rail a victim of its own success
I don't want anyone to overlook the obvious in regard to the recent inspections of light rail cars - that the light rail system is a victim of its own success ("Light rail becomes heavy burden," Commentary, May 6).
The reasons riders are inconvenienced by overcrowded rail cars in the wake of these inspections is that a critical mass of individuals like myself use the light rail and rely upon that system.
It wasn't so long ago that a Republican nominee for governor, Ellen R. Sauerbrey, in 1998 described herself as "no friend of the light rail" because she couldn't see many people riding it one morning in 1998.
And an earlier state secretary of transportation distinguished himself by writing a column in which he seemed to be unaware of when extensions of light rail service were implemented ("Transit for today," Commentary, July 7, 2003).
Marylanders have a disturbing tendency to elect people to public office who do not utilize or care about public transit.
Those people are shortsighted.
And just think of the logistical problems the light rail, subway and bus system will face once the days of cheap, happy motoring are over and gas hits $4 to $5 a gallon.
The Baltimore area would be better served by putting the east-west Red Line on the fast track and jettisoning the astonishingly stupid Intercounty Connector.
Paul R. Schlitz Jr.
Baltimore
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