So Cal Guys - Toll Road Extension through Ortega to San Clemente

[84porsche]

Article from Orange County Register....

Transportation board OKs 241 route
$875 million project will run through San Onofre State Beach park.

By JIM RADCLIFFE
The Orange County Register


IRVINE — A 16-mile extension of the Foothill (241) Toll Road easily won approval this morning. The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency’s board voted 12-3 to construct the $875 million roadway from Rancho Santa Margarita to the San Diego (I-5) Freeway south of San Clemente.

Minutes before making a decision, the board members received a written statement from the governor’s administration saying it was “very disappointed that the (Transportation Corridor Agency) was unable to find an alternative alignment.”

The highway would go through wild habitat and San Onofre State Beach park.

“If the state is concerned, where have you been for 25 years?” said Peter Herzog, a board member who supports the project and a Lake Forest City Council member.

Some board members say the state has failed to adequately make freeway improvements in recent years, and widening the I-5 Freeway would require the condemnation of hundreds of homes and commercial properties.

[pbs911]

On a related note, I heard on the news yesterday that the toll for the 91 Fastrack will be raised to $8.50 each trip! A poll found that Fast track users are willing to pay up to $18.50 each way to avoid the traffic. The reason for the increase was stated because to Fast Track is simply too crowed so the rate increase is expected to reduce the volumn to make the toll road more effective.

I don't know, but for the average weekday comunter from Corona to OC this would mean about $400 a month just for gas and tolls to get to and from work at $8.50 each trip, and just shy of $1,000 a month at $18.50!

[sammyg2]

I absolutely hate the concept of paying to drive on a road so I won't do it.
I paid to use the Pennsylvania turnpike on a business trip, but that was because I didn't have a choice.

The tree huggers will step in and kill this one I bet.

[EdT82SC]

I bet they won't kill it. Maybe modify the route to accomodate environmental concerns, but not kill. There will be lawsuits that will drive up the cost followed by a compromise, and then they'll build it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

More roads is not the solution - less people is.