What it will take to make Orange Line safe
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Re “Crashes Heighten Busway
Concerns,” Nov. 3
The Orange Line transverses 36 major at-grade intersections that are not adequately separated between automobiles and the Orange Line buses. When they cross a major intersection, the potential for collisions is great. I realize the traffic planners analyzed the cost of human lives and injuries, but did they think somehow that, in approving this system, there wouldn’t be serious accidents? Perhaps the cost of gradeseparated crossings was too high?
Wednesday’s accidents occurred only days after the Orange Line opened. How many more accidents will occur before the public gets angry and demands that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and city of Los Angeles install gates or grade-separated crossings regardless of the cost?
J.H. DEUTSCH
Hermosa Beach
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The Orange Line will be unsafe as long as the response to accidents along the route concentrates on the technology of the Orange Line rather than the failures of the drivers who run red lights. Technology alone will never make any busway safe as long as drivers continue to ignore basic traffic rules.
KEITH PRICE
Los Angeles
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