For whom the road tolls
The Transportation Corridor Agencies -- that would be the same group trying to build a toll road to nowhere through a favored state park -- is asking the government for a loan of more than $1 billion. But what the federal government really needs to take into account is the reason for the request: The existing toll roads aren't doing well. Contrary to what toll-road officials love to predict, higher gas prices do not make commuters switch to (less crowded) toll roads, where they pay an extra $4 to $5 or so each way.
The worst performer by far is the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, or Route 73, which has never met expectations. Ridership last year was half the predicted level, and the numbers are sliding downward. This is significant because the 73 is the most similar project to the proposed Foothill South toll road through San Onofre State Beach; it doesn't actually lead to or from a population or employment center. It's a diversion route, intended to take drivers several miles out of their way to get around the traffic.
That hasn't worked with 73 -- which, because it hooks up with Interstate 405 farther north, actually follows a more sensible route than the Foothill South would. The proposed toll road would link up with another toll road, which would link up with another... well, you get it. The feds are considering the TCA's appeal on the Foothill South, after the California Coastal Commission rejected it. They should consider the chances that, after causing sizable damage to the environment, the toll road would end up another asphalt elephant.
Photo by Don Kelsen/LA Times
Not to mention that they just broke ground on new lanes.. Mind boggling. People aren't driving these roads, so let's build more?????
Posted by: JoeShmoe | October 17, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Maybe they're asking for the loan to settle out of court to repay all excessive penalty fees that they've charged inocent patrons. They're in allot of trouble with the class action lawsuit they have pending against them.
Posted by: Former Patron | October 17, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Yet still more than a quarter million people use the toll roads every day. Imagine if all those cars had no choice but to use the 5 freeway. The only people that would be happy about that kind of gridlock would be the LA Times editorial board, which is hellbent on pushing a public transit system that can't fund itself on user fees and requires massive taxpayer subsidies to exist.
Posted by: toll roads provide traffic relief | October 18, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Remember that, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority, even if the Foothill toll road is built, Interstate 5 will remain congested. Thus, the logical answer is to "fix the 5." I-5 widening in southern Orange County – as is now being done all the way north to Los Angeles – obviates the need for the toll road.
Posted by: Dan Silver | October 19, 2008 at 01:38 PM
If the TCA needs a bailout, let's give them one....but in the form of a takeover.
If taxpayers are being asked to fund the roads with tax dollars, then we should have unrestricted access to use the roads we're supporting.
I propose that the state take over where this failing agency has left off and convert these roads to freeways.
Californians pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, but we're not getting our money's worth.
Among other things, California should be investing the dollars already being collected in building and maintaining the required infrastructure to support traffic patterns.
Toll roads should never been allowed in the first place.
If they can't support themselves and taxpayers have to bail them out, then take it over with a permanent bailout.
Posted by: Mark Deckard | October 21, 2008 at 09:03 AM
This request for a 'loan' is beyond absurd. The land they want to ruin is already dedicated mitigation land from the damage caused by the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. Can you imagine the precedent this will create? No land that has been set aside will be considered safe! The Toll Road group lied to the public and in their testimony when they said they would be privately financing this. Asking the government for a 'loan' is not private financing!
Posted by: Robin O'Connell | October 22, 2008 at 10:58 AM
If the 241 toll road is built, traffic on the I-5 will increase for 2 reasons:
1. Lanes of the I-5 will be closed for years during construction, creating the greatest bottleneck in the USA; and
2. No traffic improvements to the I-5 could occur due to an agreement the TCA has with CalTrans. (This is to force people to drive the toll road).
The toll road isn't about improving traffic flow at all.
Posted by: Bill Collins | October 28, 2008 at 09:54 AM
TCS spokeswoman Lisa Telles said. "And if everything gets paid back, it's not taking advantage of taxpayer money."
Yes it is. That "IF" is huge. And they'll be using taxpayer money to build a road few people will use and that will permanently alter public parkland. How much taxpayer money is that worth? If GM doesn't get a bailout without a realistic forward looking plan for the future we are entering, why should the TCA?
Posted by: brian k. | November 25, 2008 at 09:40 PM