Why would Slauson be any different from the rest of the region (and the country), which have countless grade crossings accommodating trains running in excess of 70 MPH? Stopping at a crossing gate for a train going 30 MPH at a crossing gate for a train going 80 MPH is identical. The only factor that dictates train speed is track geometry.

Building up our commuter rail network is essential to our long term transportation future.

There is no rule that commuter trains have to run infrequently. Look at any city with a more developed corridor, such as the Caltrain corridor. Starting next year, even Metrolink trains will run every thirty minutes all day throughout Orange County.

Commuter rail is what we need for this corridor because the area is already heavily served by light rail or will be soon (Green, Blue, Expo, and Crenshaw). Commuter rail is what we need because it is by far the fastest of the possible alternatives and what our system currently lacks is a connection between the core of our rail network (Union Station) and LAX. It should only make key stops, say at Slauson/Blue Line, Crenshaw, LAX. Keeping service fast will also keep South Bay access into Downtown fast. Light rail could take up to 2 hours from San Pedro, through Torrance, and into LA. That’s no good.

Ideally, I would advocate constructing this line as a light rail line starting from the Blue line Slauson station but with a new track connector added at Slauson/Blue line junction so MTA can route the trains directly from Union St (or Pasadena/Culver City/East LA) directly to LAX. I don’t see that much value in having the line go through the right-of-way in Vernon since that section of town is basically all industrial with very low density and potential ridership. The western portion of the right-of-way from Inglewood to LAX will be shared with Cranshaw line (2 for the price of 1…), and once it goes past the Green line Redondo Beach station, it should merge with the potential Green line extension.