AB 1457 Moved to Two-Year Bill
Legislation to Block Completion of Orange County Toll Road System Faced Stiff Opposition and Insufficient Support from the Committee for Passage
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 24, 2007) – Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D), author of AB 1457, which could prevent construction of the final 16-mile completion of Orange County’s existing 51-mile Toll Road system, stated he would turn his legislation into a two-year bill at today’s Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife hearing. Opposition to the bill was vehement, and Huffman stated that he would like more time to study this issue further.
“It is clear that vocal opposition through our broad and diverse coalition partners contributed to Huffman’s decision to postpone this legislation” said Jim Thor, chairman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. ”The completion of this system of toll roads is vital to California’s business and environmental health. We’re committed to both improving mobility and preserving our parks."
As a two-year bill, AB 1457 will be reconsidered in January of 2008.
AB 1457 would give veto power to the State Department of Parks over all proposed roads and highways in or near state park property. It is an overreaching measure that would interfere with local decision-making, and further complicate and delay necessary state infrastructure projects. It would create a whole new layer of bureaucracy and governmental approvals for necessary infrastructure. AB 1457 would also block road improvements scheduled to be funded by the voter approved transportation bonds if the roads are near any unit of the state park system.
Completion of Orange County’s Toll Road System is an important first for California because it is an example of successful local control, it alleviates traffic congestion, and it allows greater opportunities for commerce through the movement of goods and commodities. Orange County’s Toll Road System also uses no taxpayer dollars, and TCA’s existing public toll roads have provided the state of California with $3 Billion of infrastructure at no cost to the taxpayer.
