Valley Forum

Ready to Ride the Subway? The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is testing subway cars in preparation for a summer opening of the Red Line extension to Universal City and North Hollywood. MTA officials expect 15,000 riders a day on the new segment. So the San Fernando Valley Business Journal asks: Do you think you’ll use the Red Line when it opens? Ron Yukelson Associate Administrator/ Program Development Director Encino Tarzana Medical Center I will use it, because it’ll save me commuting time and cost. I live on the Westside, so I won’t use it for work because it’s not convenient. If I had the ability to conveniently use it from home to office, I would use it daily. There would be nothing more I’d like than to read the newspaper or get work done rather than deal with traffic on the 405. But I’ll use it on weekends or when I’m going downtown. I have a friend who has an office downtown, and when we go to lunch we use the subway. Richard Close President Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association As a personal matter, I probably won’t use it. I work in West Los Angeles, so the subway in North Hollywood would be of no value to me during the week. During the weekend, if I go to Hollywood or downtown L.A., by the time I drive or take a bus to North Hollywood and wait for the subway and take the subway, it’s much easier to drive to Hollywood or downtown. Personally, I feel I would have no need to use it. I will probably use it once or twice a year. I was surprised to learn that (only) a small percent of Valley residents work in downtown L.A. The whole subway is geared at getting people to downtown L.A. It may be that the subway will only be used by a small number of Valley residents. Rob Wyatt Project Development Director BRC Imagination Arts Yes, I would plan to use it. My mom and dad grew up in Holland, and I always wished that I had public transportation where I lived. It’ll be a great way to wind down after the day. I live on the other side of the hill, so I’ll use it for work. Joe Libby Owner Epic Cuisine Catering No, I won’t personally use it due to the fact that I like cruising in my car. And I have to go to different locations that are probably not on the subway route for my business, so it’s just not practical. Richard Hardman Executive Director Northridge Chamber of Commerce The simple answer is no. I don’t have much need to use it. I don’t go downtown much, and if I did, I would drive downtown even if there is traffic. It’s just me in my car. I think the subway is a terrible waste of money. If there was tremendous surface transportation feeding it, then I could understand it might be useful. Stacey Johnes Director of Corporate Communications ENutrition To be honest, I wouldn’t use it. I’m not even sure where it goes and if there are any routes that go places I need to go. And second, the whole earthquake thing makes me nervous. And I really can’t see needing it to go from where I live in the Valley to where I work and other places I go.