Not easy to get around carless in valley

Well, we just spent $100,000 on a consultant to help us plan high-speed rail service for Modesto. I hope that included in the bill are some receipts for tickets for train rides.

I would really like some of that commentary to include experiences about trying to get anywhere in the state conveniently without a car.

Catching BART requires a bus ride before 6 in the morning, or you can wait until 8 and catch Amtrak. That will take you to Richmond by 10, too late to get much done in the morning, but there's always the afternoon. Don't worry, you will be back by 8 in the evening or so.

While ACE intersects BART at several points, I am not aware of a point where you could conveniently switch from one to the other.

From the standpoint of value for the valley towns along Highway 99, it would be much more beneficial to figure out how to make the entire experience more convenient.

DAVID ABLETT

Modesto