American Notes LOS ANGELES

Though they may differ over politics, taxes and who puts out the best video exercise tape, Los Angeles residents seldom disagree about traffic congestion: it is horrific and steadily growing worse. Help may be on the way. This week the Blue Line, the first leg of the city's first light rapid-transit rail system for commuters, will begin running from downtown to Long Beach, 20 miles to the south, with 22 stops along the way. Fare: a flat $1.10.

But will Angelenos use the $800 million line? Says Norm Jester, director of rail activation for the Rail Construction Corporation: "It will be attractive enough to encourage people to leave cars behind." The line is expected to carry 35,000 daily passengers the first year and 54,000 by the year 2000. That will leave more than enough of L.A.'s 4 1/2 million auto commuters to clog freeways well into the next century.