LETTERS: Communications grid, traffic woes and more

Communications grid should be top priority

While I agree with the idea of expanding and enhancing all modes of transportation, there must be a priority . The very first thing to do in terms of major across-the-Island construction is to improve our communications system. We need to put our electric power lines underground, and make Long Island a wireless community.

You mention the idea of putting the LIRR underground. Why go to that expense when we can add monorail service above the existing LIRR or LIE corridors? There's also a suggestion of starting high-speed ferry service from Shoreham. Do that and you put the Port Jefferson to Bridgeport system out of business. Why not add to the Port Jefferson service? They have the port, the facility, and the know-how.

Joel Reitman

Peconic

Give LIers incentives to use mass transit

Long Islanders, and most Americans for that matter, need to use their cars less, and use alternative transportation more. This requires a paradigm shift and significant behavior modification. Recently, the MTA and other transit organizations in the metropolitan area have announced service cutbacks in response to budget crises. Moves such as these do not help with the paradigm shifts or behavior modifications necessary to reduce road congestion.

Instead of service cutbacks, increase the cost of operating an automobile. Increase tolls, institute East River tolls and congestion pricing, increase licensing fees and increase parking costs. Behavior modification happens quickest when one's wallet is affected. Look at what happened when gasoline rose above $4 a gallon.

Close the budget gaps and improve and increase service at the current fares.

The transit authorities have missed a golden opportunity to achieve long-term goals; fund the mass transit system and reduce automobile use.

James T. Rooney

Centerport

Brain drain will solve traffic woes

I don't see how Long Island traffic in 2035 will pan out as the experts predict. The prohibitive price of doing business here leads one good business after another to relocate off the Island, taking good jobs with them. This declining availability of good jobs - or, more accurately, careers - coupled with still-high house prices and ever-increasing property taxes, drives our best and brightest to leave Long Island for good after graduating college, starting their families elsewhere. Wall Street, which provides well-paying jobs for many Long Islanders, is itself about to be "regulated" to a more onerous degree by the federal government. As icing on the cake, the state dragged its feet in paying out income tax refunds, giving more residents a fresh reason to consider relocating out of state.

Traffic problems in 2035? I'm thinking that by then I'll be able to get a section of the LIE closed for my block party, if there's anyone left to attend.

Ed Ferrara

Massapequa Park