It starts out with a budget shortfall, then fewer routes, then few riders, and pretty soon there is nothing left. The MTA is proposing raising fares, with the victims being those people who ride the buses and trains. How can Los Angeles allow this?

The MTA doesn’t only benefit its riders. Its increasing coverage and capacity is intrinisic to the health of the entire region. Less air pollution, less automobile traffic, cleaner air, the ability to move lots of persons around the city.

There is a solution, and it would cause an uproar. We should have an additional tax, of perhaps a dime per gallon, on gasoline. These taxes would help fund the MTA, while helping to conserve the viability of public transport in this city.

One hears a load of happy talk about a greener California, from Villaraigosa (a million trees) to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s appearance on MTV’s “Pimp My RIde” to tout alternative fuels. But are these leaders doing anything concrete? We are bombarded with news daily about global warming, asthma and children’s health, and obesity. Walking and using buses and trains helps combat many of the ailments of our modern dilemnas.

Why should MTA be fighting this battle alone? The entire state and city needs to step in to assist them and keep the trains and buses cheap, frequent and abundant.