To the editor:

Actually, maybe we don’t NEED another trafficway at all. Maybe we only WANT one so we can continue our current habits without giving any thought to probable consequences, no matter how destructive these may be.

But since all of our world’s resources are becoming ever more limited because of increasing population, over consumption and waste, we cannot have all that we want. We also need to reduce pollution of the atmosphere that sustains us.

Since highway traffic contributes heavily to depletion of resources and to air pollution, the NEED – if our civilization is to have a chance to continue without major disruption – is for less traffic. Or at least for less traffic consisting of individual, large vehicles with only one or two passengers each. The need is for a far better method of moving people from place to place, both locally and nationally. Efficient, non-polluting, comprehensive mass transportation, for example.

So then, we need to spend our transportation money, time and energy on developing such systems. Shifting to mass transit would have the added advantage of preventing many thousands of deaths and injuries and their attendant suffering and expense each year.

Meanwhile, we could do much to reduce traffic immediately – if there were the will to do so. Carpooling could significantly reduce traffic and it benefits all participants. Local and intercity bus services could be greatly expanded. With a little thought, we could learn to drive less. And so on.

Doris S. Dort,

Lawrence