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TOLL ROAD BOARD URGES STATE LAWMAKERS TO PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL, IMPROVE MOBILITY
IRVINE, Calif.
(May 11, 2006) – The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) Board of Directors today unanimously approved a resolution urging Orange County’s elected state leaders to oppose efforts by some state Assemblymembers to take control away from local officials charged with completing the last segment of Orange County’s 67-mile public toll road system. Read resolution
“This is a direct attack on local control of issues that impact Orange County residents and businesses,” said Ken Ryan, Chairman of the F/ETCA Board. “This project has been studied extensively for many years. The alignment chosen best addresses critical traffic congestion needs and avoids sensitive environmental areas.”
Last week, members of a State Assembly Budget Subcommittee approved recommendations to add trailer bill language that would prohibit the TCA, a local government entity made up of cities and the County of Orange, from moving forward with the preferred toll road alignment to complete the last segment of the 241 Toll Road, a project known as Foothill-South.
Studies show that the preferred alignment – which was approved by the Foothill/Eastern Board of Directors on Feb. 23 – will significantly relieve traffic congestion in south Orange County, while minimizing environmental and community impacts.
“At a time when our Governor and State lawmakers have put rebuilding our highways at the center of the agenda, it doesn’t make sense for Sacramento to try to stop such an important highway project here in Orange County, particularly when this project doesn’t require state taxpayer dollars or state bond money,” said Peter Herzog, F/ETCA Board Member and Lake Forest City Councilman.
Polls show that nearly 60% of Orange County residents support Foothill-South, with support especially strong in South Orange County where nearly 70% support the project. A broad base of elected leaders, cities, business groups, and community organizations support the completion of the 241 Toll Road, including the American Society of Civil Engineers/Los Angeles Section, the Building Industry Association/Orange County Chapter, the California Building Industry Association, the California Women's Leadership Association, the City of Lake Forest, the City of Laguna Woods, the City of Mission Viejo, the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, the Irvine Chamber Chamber of Commerce, the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, the Orange Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Board of Realtors, the Orange County Business Council, the OC Taxpayers Association, the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce, the South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce (Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo & Rancho Santa Margarita), the Tustin Chamber of Commerce, and the San Juan Basin Authority.
ABOUT TCA/THE TOLL ROADS
The Toll Roads are operated by the Transportation Corridor Agencies, two joint powers authorities formed in 1986 to plan, finance, construct, and operate Orange County's 67-mile public toll road system. Fifty-one miles of the system are complete, including the San Joaquin Hills (73) Toll Road from Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano; and the Foothill/Eastern Toll Roads (241, 261, and 133) from the 91 Freeway to south Orange County. More: www.thetollroads.com.
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