Commuting across the Longfellow Bridge with a sense of unease

I AM aware of the ongoing repairs to the Longfellow Bridge and of the traffic limitations that were recently imposed on motor vehicles ("Two lanes closed on Longfellow Bridge," City & Region, June 28). As a daily rider of the MBTA Red Line, I question the safety of having the trains operating over the bridge during these repairs.

On the way to work recently, the conductor apologized for the slow, stop-and-go ride between Charles and Kendall stations. He indicated that "for safety reasons, we must travel no faster than 10 miles per hour."

Trains are heavier than the trucks that are now banned from the bridge. If there are indeed safety concerns, the speed of the trains is immaterial. Six-car trains, each car comprising tons of weight, should not be traveling on this bridge at all. Bus service could be provided between Park or Charles and Kendall.

I would rather be inconvenienced in this way than by the greater inconvenience of the collapse of the bridge.

JOHN LaRUFFA
Roxbury