Times Again Calls for End to Subway Fight

The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday published another editorial critical of the city's attempts to thwart Metro from tunneling under Beverly Hills High School.

The newspaper, which has run several opinion articles urging the city to accept the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board's approval of a route that goes under BHHS, framed this latest rhetorical salvo in the context of the 2013 Beverly Hills City Council election:

Beverly Hills' embarrassing battle against the Westside subway extension, which emerged as a major political issue last year, is becoming one of the key issues in the March 5 city elections. With the lines hardening between those determined to take legal action to stop the construction of a tunnel under the local high school, which they fear will endanger students, and those who see that route as the safest alternative, we urge residents to consider the scientific and engineering reality rather than merely relying on emotion. In other words: Stop gumming up the rails, Beverly Hills, for your own sake and L.A.'s.

Mayor William Brien has voiced his own reservations about the subway, but to his credit, he has sought to avoid a costly legal fight against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, whose board last May approved a plan to route the train under Beverly Hills High School. As a result, Brien has been heavily criticized by his political opponents. We're not endorsing Brien or any candidate in the city race this year, but in the case of the subway, he's right not to pick a fight.

The editorial goes on to attempt to assuage safety concerns expressed by Beverly Hills city officials, school board members and residents.

Last week the city filed a second lawsuit, this time in federal court, that attempts to block the Westside Subway Extension.

Click here to read the entire Times editorial.

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