Editor,
It has come to our attention that the Transportation Corridor Agencies that only builds toll roads, is looking at eight options, five of which include managed toll lanes on the 5 freeway. All of the options include eminent domain takings of homes and businesses.
The TCA has no authority to put managed toll lanes on the 5 freeway. The TCA, created by a joint power agreement in Orange County, is clear to build the toll roads, pay down the bonds then go away.
State Route 73 was supposed to be free two years ago and instead the TCA still owes $6.2 billion, the executives make very lucrative salaries and they enjoy international travel and spend wastefully daily.
The TCA has been collecting development fees since inception, however in 2016 the TCA gave up the only toll road route that was on the legislative maps. Why is the TCA still collecting development fees when they have not built anything in 20 years and they do not have an approved route on the legislative maps?
We want our development fees back! Orange County is not your piggy bank.
No toll road or managed lanes in OC! Managed toll lanes don’t appear to be assisting with traffic and the cost is a form of highway robbery. Caltrans should not be even looking at the TCA’s proposals of managed lanes on the 5 as the proposals are economically discriminating. Our taxes should not be used for economic discrimination.
TCA should pay down the bonds and make the roads free as promised and get out of town.
Michelle Schumacher, San Clemente
Great story. I can’t understand that the TCA is still in business.They are spending so much money on board salaries, European trips, lobbyists, contractors. You name it. The 73 should have been paid for by now. Yet, they continue to refinance their bonds. Why isn’t the powers to be looking at their finances? They really need to go out of business. They are not needed any more. San Clemente does not need another toll road going thru the City. Enough already.
While the TCA wants to build a toll road through south Orange County, they fail to realize that disrupting our community will not help with traffic to and from the San Diego area. A toll road ending at San Clemente will simply make traffic worse through Camp Pendleton and Oceanside. To spend hundreds of millions of dollars pouring more concrete is too short-sighted.
In addition, the proposed routes would affect 5 schools, a park for the handicapped, natural wildlife and open spaces.
A better idea would be to make the 73 toll road free which would help increase mobility tremendously.
After attending numerous TCA meetings, it is obvious that they do not care as much about mobility and finding innovative solutions to the traffic problem, but enjoy their lucrative paychecks.
The article written by Michelle Schumacher is on point with continued abuse of discretion by TCA.
State Route 73 serves as a reminder and current example of the gross negligence and mismanagement by TCA. To the point, I have never experienced traffic while traveling on the 73 Toll road. The cumulative cost of Tolls is cost prohibitive, placing many at a distinct economic disadvantage. As an open space environmentalist, I object to the taking of open space where unintended consequence is the disruption of native species and obliteration of established wildlife corridors.
“State Route 73 was supposed to be free two years ago and instead the TCA still owes $6.2 billion, the executives make very lucrative salaries and they enjoy international travel and spend wastefully daily.”
I stand together with M.Schumacher to demand State Highway 73 become Toll Free, for all commuters.