L A Metro

"The modern Los Angeles Metro Rail system resulted from the sustained efforts of local leaders, particularly with the election of Tom Bradley as mayor in 1973. Political compromises and funding pressures, however, severely weakened the effectiveness of the subway and light rail lines. Railtown presents this history by drawing on archival documents, contemporary news accounts, and interviews with many of the key players in the story to provide critical behind-the-scenes accounts of the people and forces that shaped the system. Although Metro Rail is growing in ridership and political importance, with expansions in the pipeline, Railtown argues that local leaders will need to reform the rail planning and implementation process to avoid repeating past mistakes and to ensure that Metro Rail supports a burgeoning demand for transit-oriented neighborhoods in Los Angeles"--