Toll Lane Proposal

“Could L.A. Be Heading Toward Toll Roads?” (Nov. 28) was interesting, but coming one day after experiencing one of the worst traffic conditions ever, driving on the 91 Freeway, I have to state most of the proposed changes and hoped-for benefits are not realistic.

The traffic on the 91 was ample proof that added lanes are needed and they exist, but they are double toll lanes. The traffic was stop and go from before the 91 express lane, all the freeway paralleling the toll road and after. It was the first time I have ever seen the diamond lane equally tied up. The number of cars using the toll road was so insignificant that it made no difference.

What would have made a difference is to have the two extra lanes open to all. The freeway is four lanes wide, and simple math will show that had the politicians not sold the extra lanes, the traffic would have been only two-thirds as bad and the speed would have been 50% faster.

PETER R. McGOWAN

Long Beach

* Should it be implemented, the REACH task force’s proposal that Los Angeles get fast-moving toll lanes on some “free”ways suggests that someday the affluent among us will not just be living in walled-in communities, they will also be driving to work on walled-in highways.

Outstanding! Anything that can help those of us in the slower lanes to see more clearly the growing disparity between America’s rich and America’s poor has got to be a good thing.

JOHN TRECHAK

Pasadena