Re “VINTAGE: Subway system was decades in the making,” July 29 issue

I loved your vintage Metro Plan from 1960. It was smart enough to know that to build more miles cheaply, it would have to be above ground. The current Purple Line [subway] construction is expensive and will be completed much later than promised, and only covers 5 miles. Had above ground lines been done, they would be completed quicker and cheaper, allowing more lines to be built overall.

Harlan Levinson

Los Angeles