Interests at odds in toll road plan

Re “Tollway is ‘essential,’ gov. says,” Jan. 16

How dare Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggest that a toll road through San Onofre State Park will “protect our environment and the quality of life for everyone in California.” What he really means is it will protect the bank accounts of developers who want to push this stinker through. Anyone who doesn’t think that opening up pristine wilderness to development will ultimately increase gridlock just stands to make a buck from it.

Kurt Page

Laguna Niguel

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I commend Schwarzenegger on his recent letter urging the California Coastal Commission to approve the State Route 241 toll road extension. The governor is just one of the many elected officials, business and community leaders and individuals who support the Foothill South project.

I am pleased to read of Schwarzenegger’s backing for the toll road extension and for his support of the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ successful environmental mitigation programs. As commuters, we all will benefit.

Michele Miller

Lake Forest

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It’s ironic that Schwarzenegger wants to spend $875 million on the proposed Foothill South tollway, yet on the same day, there is an article about San Onofre’s nuclear power plant employees having breached its safety and security (“San Onofre workers disciplined over safety lapses,” Jan. 16). Seems to me California needs to take care of its current problems, not add to them with yet another tollway. Anyway, whatever happened to going green?

Brenda Scott

Orange

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For the business community, the 241 extension represents the only viable relief for traffic on the Interstate 5 corridor, where traffic is projected to increase by 60% over the next 20 years. That strain on a single transportation corridor presents monumental challenges to mobility, public safety and an economy that depends on moving goods and people throughout Southern California.

For the environment, this project has benefits to parkland, wildlife and habitat that will set new standards in preserving this region’s high quality of life.

Lucy Dunn

President, Chief Executive

Orange County

Business Council

Irvine

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Unfortunately, the governor considers his own political survival ahead of a long-term transportation vision by supporting the toll road extension for south Orange County. Spending on a toll road for a few sprawling foothill communities would destroy a state park and wilderness conservancy and preclude a much-needed upgrade to Interstate 5, the existing lifeline between San Diego and Los Angeles. Toll roads are not free, and motorists will be paying for generations because of our politicians’ self-interest.

Jack Eidt

Director of Planning

Wild Heritage Planners

San Juan Capistrano