Change of heart on subway

Times Staff Writer Richard Simon, who covers Congress (and used to be our local transportation writer), provides some important history and context to the House vote to lift the ban on subway tunneling:

Two decades ago, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), concerned about the safety of building a subway through the Fairfax district after an underground gas explosion there, wrote into federal law a ban on tunnel through the area. On Wednesday, Waxman, now satisfied that new technology has made tunneling safe, persuaded the House to repeal the 1985 law prohibiting the use of federal funds for subway construction under Wilshire Boulevard. The Senate is expected to follow suit soon, and President Bush is expected to sign the repeal measure into law, removing a major political obstacle to extending the subway to the Westside that was put in place when Ronald Reagan was president and Tom Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles. Extending the subway to the ocean-estimated to cost at least $4.8 billion-is still years away. The exact route has yet to be determined, and securing federal funds, at a time of massive budget deficits and fierce competition for money, will be no easy task. Waxman sought the tunneling ban after 21 people were injured in the methane gas explosion at a West 3rd Street dress store, raising safety concerns about extending the subway through pockets of methane gas. But with traffic congestion growing worse, local officials asked him to reconsider the ban. Among those pushing for lifting the ban was Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who in his mayor campaign pledged to push for extending the subway to the sea. Waxman agreed to sponsor the repeal bill after an independent panel of experts ``indicated that technologies have been developed that could make tunneling in the area safe.'' ``In the 20 years since the congressman put this in, the technology has really advanced,'' said Roger Snoble, the MTA's chief executive officer. A similar measure was approved by the House last year, but died in the Senate in the waning days of Congress

Waxman talks about his change of heart and what his bill would mean.

Times Staff Writer Jean Guccione last November wrote about the surprising new support for the subway in Beverly Hills:

Beverly Hills residents, some of whom once opposed a subway, may be set to endorse a Wilshire Boulevard route from Western Avenue that would include one station at La Cienega Boulevard, and another between Beverly and Rodeo drives. At community meetings, city leaders have confronted residents' fears of subway crime and potential terrorism. They warn naysayers that, without a subway, traffic on the Westside will only get worse. "There is an incredible sea change of attitude from resistance to support for the subway," said Allan Alexander, a former Beverly Hills mayor who co-chairs the city's mass transit panel.

Comments

[Vail Beach]

Waxman stopped the subway because of methane gas.

And I am the Queen of Moldavia.

Waxman was in a bind. His wealthy consituents didn't want a subway giving access to exclusive neighborhoods to the riff-raff. The explosion at Ross Dress for Less was a Godsend for Henry, who needed to stop the subway without looking like he was pandering to racists and elitists. So he concocted the methane issue, which no transportation officials who knew anything about it considered to be a problem.

Please.