Letter: Light rail system just not cost-effective

Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 | 12:31 p.m.

Regarding the Sun's Feb. 12 story, "Getting public on board":

Contrary to wishful thinking of light rail advocates, traffic congestion is not mitigated by building multibillion-dollar light rail systems. As a member of the Regional Fixed Guideway Steering Committee, I must report that the committee was wrong to recommend light rail. It is just not cost effective.

The Henderson portion of the route is particularly problematic with 17 dangerous at-grade crossings. Traffic on major roads would be forced to stop for trains every seven and a half minutes, making traffic congestion worse. Trains would stop at stations, and passengers would then transfer to a bus or walk long distances in the desert heat to reach anywhere most want to go.

Washington, Los Angeles, Houston and Portland, Ore., wasted billions on rail projects that do not ease traffic congestion. As more cities are duped into squandering precious tax dollars on train projects, consultants and their light rail cronies line their pockets with silver. They don't care that taxpayers have to subsidize light rail by 80 percent in most cities. The taxpayer subsidy for the Regional Transportation Commission's proposed system would be at least $150 million every year.

Why would Clark County taxpayers choose to raise taxes and waste our money on a light rail system that is not cost-effective (in an area of low transit demand), that is inconvenient, and slower than driving a car?

California has wasted billions on rail projects, and fewer than 5 percent of Los Angeles commuters ride the rail. Let's learn from their mistakes rather than betting our money on wishful thinking of light rail advocates.

Beverly Dix, Henderson