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Editor: 

I agree with Steve Geller in his Nov. 24 letter that most people want to reduce congestion. The problem is that government subsidizes congestion with “freeways.” They really are not “free,” because it costs much to build highways, and the congestion imposes a social cost on commuters. The effective remedy is toll charges high enough to eliminate the crowding. Also, finance mass transit with assessments based on land values, making BART and buses free to users. You will then see a massive shift from cars to public transit, a demand which will then warrant better service. 

Fred Foldvary 

Berkeley