I use public transportation to commute to work. The light rail line is about 2.5 miles from my home and less than one block from my job.

The advantages of that system are that it saves money on parking and gives me time to read.

The light rail's disadvantages include insufficient parking, poor bus connections and its ludicrous ticket purchasing system. Also, the trains can be slow, it's a long time between trains and the stations provide almost no protection from the elements.

And I sometimes have the feeling the light rail line was built because the money to build it was available, not because anyone was trying to get people where they were going.

Helen Naviasky, Baltimore

I do not ride the Baltimore Metro on a regular basis because I work in Rockville. But, on occasion, I use it to get to a meeting in downtown Baltimore. The station is near my home.

I avoid traffic and high parking fees downtown, and the fare is inexpensive.

But what drives me crazy every time I do ride the Metro is the process of getting a ticket.

I cannot buy one with dollar bills directly. I first have to exchange the dollar bill for a dollar coin, then go to the other side of the entryway to exchange the dollar coin and other coins for a ticket.

With all our modern payment devices, why can't we put the bills directly into the ticket machine?

Washington's Metro's fare system is much more efficient and sophisticated. There, you can put a certain amount of money on your fare card, and after each trip the appropriate amount is deducted. I'd like to see a similar system on the Baltimore Metro.

I do applaud the Metro for the free rides on July 4.

I was watching the fireworks at the Inner Harbor at 9: 30 p.m. and was back at Milford Mill Metro station by 10: 30 pm.

George Lunn, Baltimore

I have used the light rail system to reach ball games at Camden Yards, performances at the Joseph A. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and the Lyric Opera House and to get to the Walters Art Gallery and the the Maryland Historical Society.

But my best experience with the light rail was a trip to the Baltimore Arena to see the circus with my grandchildren, who are 6 and 4 years old.

The circus was great. We cheered the trapeze artists, clapped for the elephants and held our breath as the motorcyclists did somersaults.

We bought the glowing wands that lasted through the evening and ate throughout the long intermission.

But when we got home and asked the kids what they liked best about the afternoon, their answer was: "Our ride on the light rail."

Ruth Wheeler, Towson

From my front porch in Cardiff, the old port city of Baltimore is more than an hour's drive away, including a monotonous stretch along one of Maryland's most dangerous roads.

But no danger, no beltway mergers and no stress accompany the light rail ride through the McCormick Co.'s spice island, Warren Road's surreal quarries, Timonium's urbanization and into the city's vibrant heart.

As I step off the light rail for Artscape or to join the crowds at Camden Yards, I face no parking problems. And with the money I've saved on parking, I can afford to indulge at Harborplace.

On top of those advantages are the pleasures of the train itself. Nothing can top that romantic ambience of a train ride -- and the light rail features clean cars at a perfect temperature with enormous picture windows -- and wonderful passengers.

My favorite memory among the many acts of neighborliness I've seen on the light rail is of the two joyous girls who, in a standing-room-only car, offered their seats to all adults who came on board. What is even more memorable is that everyone thanked them, but no one took their seats.

From my front porch, I see the placid sweetness of small-town life. But thanks to the light rail system, I also have access to the infinite variety of life in a major city.

I love the excitement of coming into Baltimore and plan to move to the city when I retire. I can't wait to explore public transportation.

Lea Billingslea, Cardiff

I have several reasons for not using public transportation, the major one being concern for my safety.

In 1993, when I was four months pregnant, I took the light rail from Timonium to Camden station. The ride in was untroubled, but my return trip in the afternoon was a nightmare.

Few people were in the light rail car with me. One man, who appeared to be either drunk or high, kept glancing at me and mumbling things having to do with killing a major segment of the American population.

At one of the last stops in the city, everyone got off the car except this man and me. I was very afraid to change to a different car, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

When someone else did get on and sat in our car, I rested more easily -- until the newcomer brought out a bottle in a bag and started drinking.

The combative man got off at the Ridgely Road station, so I felt I could get off safely at the Timonium park and ride.

But I now refuse to take the light rail unless it's at peak travel time and my husband is with me.

Sue Gury, Perry Hall

The light rail system is the city of Baltimore's finest achievement. It is convenient, fast, clean and quiet. The rail cars are very well-constructed.

We should complete the dual tracks, extend the system to Annapolis and make plans to extend the system east and west as well.

Light rail is the way to bring relief to our crowded highways.

Walter Boyd, Lutherville

We use the light rail system regularly. It is convenient for the Joseph A. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Walters Art Gallery, Camden Yards and any event downtown.

We use senior citizen passes, so you can't beat the price.

We've had some problems finding parking for the light rail, but not big problems. We encourage everyone to try the light rail system -- you'll like it.

Al Buls

Velma Buls, Baltimore

Worst rail in world? 'MARC is undoubtedly the title holder'

Whenever a colleague in Washington asks, "How's the commute from Baltimore?" I can't help but think of the title of John Kennedy Toole's novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces." No phrase more aptly captures those responsible for the MARC train system.

I am new to Baltimore. In the two months I have lived here, one of them has been spent on the 5: 51 MARC train to Camden Station.

When anticipating a commute by MARC train, it has become routine for me to pack reserve water and provisions. I've even considered speaking to the U.S. Postal Service about having my mail forwarded to the train.

I used to think MARC was the worst train system in the Western Hemisphere; the title of "worst in the world" had to go to the Vietnamese railway I traveled in 1998.

But, after experiencing the MARC's dogged consistency for tardiness -- and adding to the equation that in a mere four years of the Vietnam war we dropped 4,580,000 tons of bombs on Vietnam (with its railroad strategically targeted) -- MARC is undoubtedly the title holder.

At least the dilapidated Vietnamese trains run on time.

A few weeks ago, copies of a letter from John D. Porcari, Maryland's secretary of transportation, were left on the train-seats for commuters.

Mr. Porcari apologized for the recent delays and explained some of the problems.

A nice gesture. Nice enough to keep my comments at bay for a while.

But since delivery of that letter, nothing has changed. Now the only gesture I would find truly satisfactory is the return of my $286, the cost of two monthly commuter tickets -- that, or for MARC to fix the problems.

The causes of the delays really don't interest me. I don't want to hear about congestion caused by sharing the rails with freight trains.

I don't want to hear about miscommunications between conductors and dispatchers or signals and engines malfunctioning.

I want only to go to and from my Washington office on time. I'm even willing to accept a reasonable variance in arrival times.

Correct the problems or give me my money back.

While I'm at it, here's one more complaint. I must concede that all the conductors I have had contact with have been affable professionals who are equally disgusted with the situation.

However, I find it curious that among a group of conductors who speak beautifully, they will, on occasion, apparently elect the one who speaks as if his mouth is full of railroad gravel to announce the station stops.

It puzzles me.

But if Mr. Porcari can get the MARC trains to run on time, I can live with "Bawlmoor! Bawlmoor Camin Yad!"

Primo Ventello, Baltimore

Maryland must ride the rail into next century

Robert E. Lantham's letter on the need for new roads is typical of the thinking from what I call "the fogies from the Fifties" ("More roads, drivers are coming," July 24). Their calls for more roads are the same tired responses we've been hearing since the Eisenhower administration.

The giant 10- and 12-lane roads they promote are a hassle I avoid whenever I can by riding MARC, the light rail and Washington's Metro system.

Mr. Lantham and others criticize public transportation for failing to cure congestion. This may be true, but it's just as true that new roads don't do this any better. We should substitute transit systems for almost any new road project with four or more lanes or for massive road widening projects. The second and more important thing is to expand the usefulness of public transit, particularly light rail. This can be done by building rail lines more cheaply, which could make light rail affordable even in Western Maryland.

We can also use the light rail lines (and possibly MARC) for moving more than people.

The old inter-urban trolley lines handled small freight shipments; these shipments rode in "box motors" (a freight trolley with no windows) and in the baggage compartments of many passenger cars.

With trolley freight to Baltimore-Washington International Airport and express cars in MARC trains, who would need to sit in traffic?

David P. Lubic, Martinsburg, W. Va.

The writer is a member of the Baltimore and Ohio Roundhouse Preservation Committee.

Troubling leadership on dredge dumping

Over the past several weeks, as opposition to dumping dredge at Site 104 in the bay between Kent Island and Sandy Point State Park has mounted, the strategy Gov. Parris N. Glendening is using to defend this plan has become increasingly troubling.

It is now clear that we need not only the elimination of the Site 104 plan, but also more thoughtful and responsible leadership on future environmental issues.

Recently, three federal agencies have joined the chorus of local voices criticizing the state's plan to dump 18 million cubic yards of dredged material at Site 104.

Reiterating the concerns raised by community groups and environmental organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have condemned the plan for the harm it will do to countless species of fish and aquatic plants and to shellfish beds and water quality.

Unfortunately, Governor Glendening inexplicably remains committed to dumping at Site 104.

Although his administration's endorsements of the plan have been common, its substantive defenses of it have been rare.

Public statements by Mr. Glendening and his staff promise to "follow through with the process" and "to use Site 104 as part of the 20-year plan," but fail to address the serious environmental concerns that have been raised.

The governor's lone substantive defense of the plan is that Site 104 is essential to the future of the port of Baltimore -- so the state must accept open-water dumping to protect jobs. However, several alternatives to the current plan would guarantee both the port's viability and the bay's health.

The material removed from bay shipping channels doesn't have to be simply dumped elsewhere in the bay. Dredged material can be recycled and used to develop fish and wildlife habitat, or to reclaim existing shorelines, restore Poplar Island and other deteriorating bay islands or to produce industrial and commercial goods.

Such alternatives to the "dredge and dump" cycle could benefit both the port and the bay and could provide considerable economic benefits for the state.

The governor's approach also creates an unfortunate, and ultimately dangerous, political environment by pitting the environment against the economy.

Elected officials should not behave as though a choice must be made between jobs and environment. Protecting both is possible -- and necessary.

We can preserve the port of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay. So let's look for alternatives that are more acceptable to all concerned.

Mary Roe Walkup, Chestertown

The writer represents the 36th District in the Maryland House of Delegates.

'Book Block' campaign creating some confusion

Twenty-two years ago, my parents opened the first used and rare book shop on 25th Street, the Kelmscott Bookshop. Since then other bookstores have come and gone in the area, yet we have remained.

The recent proposal for a CVS store on the corner of 25th and Charles streets has spurred much emotion, but also much confusion.

Lynda Case Lambert's letter "Saving the 'Book Block' " (July 24), for instance, contains several erroneous assertions.

The 10 buildings that CVS plans to raze are not in a "National Historic District." That special zoning does not apply to 25th Street west of Charles Street.

Ms. Lambert's letter also says that "the CVS suburban style eyesore will demolish half of the Book Block . . ." But CVS is not going to build a standard suburban-style building. It is spending extra money to construct a building with an all-brick facade.

And, only six of the 19 buildings on 25th Street will be destroyed for the CVS. The other four buildings to be torn down are condemned buildings on Charles Street.

Ms. Lambert says that "nearby blocks have been decimated, in turn, by a gargantuan Safeway. . ." She fails to mention that the Safeway was built on the former site of the Chesapeake Cadillac/Jaguar lot, which left for Timonium in the early 1990s.

I think having a grocery store in the area is better than having an abandoned lot. The grocery store seems to fulfill the needs of low-income residents and the elderly who have limited mobility.

Most important to us, and contrary to Ms. Lambert's claims, no bookstores were forced out by CVS.

I believe that Ms. Lambert has good intentions, but her statements are harmful to our business. We now receive calls daily asking when we are closing.

I have seen a petition at Video Americain to "Save the Book Block." This gives the false impression that we are either closed or being forced out by CVS Stores.

Neither is true. We do not have any plans of closing. CVS is not forcing us out and would not hurt us at all.

Instead, the people who are inflicting the most damage to our business are the ones trying to "save" us from the corporate behemoth of CVS.

The Kelmscott Bookshop, with its 80,000 used and rare books, has been open for 22 years and will remain in the same location.

Steve Johanson, Baltimore

The writer is co-owner of the Kelmscott Bookshop.