Caltrans’ Link to 91 Toll Lanes Decried

Riverside County transportation officials protested to Gov. Gray Davis, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer and Caltrans Director Jose Medina on Thursday, charging that state officials are working too closely with the private operator of the 91 Express Lanes.

In a strongly worded letter, Tom Mullen, chairman of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, implored Medina to block efforts to move to San Diego County Superior Court a lawsuit filed in Riverside County on Dec. 22.

Attorneys for Caltrans and the toll lanes’ operator, California Private Transportation Co., have filed court papers asking for a change of venue. They say the case should unfold in San Diego--not in Riverside County.

That is unacceptable, Riverside transportation officials say.

“We must oppose any Caltrans action which would deny the citizens of Riverside County the right to decide this case,” Mullen wrote. “Caltrans’ attorneys merely claim it would be ‘convenient’ for CPTC and Caltrans’ attorneys to have the case transferred to San Diego.”

The Riverside County Transportation Commission sued the state and the CPTC, alleging that Caltrans has allowed the private toll-road company to illegally use public carpool lanes in Riverside County that are adjacent to the toll lanes.

That segment, a hazardous stretch of the Riverside Freeway, is used as a transition zone for motorists who must merge through traffic to enter the toll lanes while other commuters are forced out of the carpool lanes. The Riverside County lawsuit contends that Caltrans breached an agreement it had with the county in an effort to assist the private operator of the toll lanes.

Caltrans officials in Sacramento couldn’t be reached for comment late Thursday. But in court papers, Caltrans attorney David Pettigrass wrote that attorneys for Caltrans and the 91 Express Lanes “have their offices in the city and county of San Diego.”

But Mullen told Medina: “Riverside County citizens have the right to have their disputes heard in their local courts. . . . More importantly, we are deeply concerned over the close cooperation between CPTC and Caltrans against the public in Riverside County.”