241 Toll Road Decision 

Ladera Ranch Times Submission

In December, the Secretary of Commerce issued its decision to uphold the California Coastal Commission's rejection of coastal consistency certification. While I'm disappointed by the decision, I remain committed to the completion of the 241 Toll Road.

Unfortunately, the decision demonstrates the lack of understanding of the vital need for another North/South connector between Orange and San Diego counties including the implications it has on national security, goods movement, and alleviating traffic gridlock.

The Secretary's decision was based on an unacceptable alternative route that has already been carefully studied and dismissed for many significant reasons. For example, the suggested La Pata alternative has no direct connection to the 1-5 Freeway, thus it would provide very little traffic relief to the I-5 corridor that connects the second and third most populous counties in the state. It would also have negative effects on communities like Talega, which would be bisected by the road, and the greater City of San Clemente, which would experience substantial traffic increases to its arterial roads.

Improvements to La Pata Road have already been identified as necessary - but they are to be completed in conjunction with the Toll Road completion, not in place of it.

I strongly believe that completing the 241 toll road is critical to our region's quality of life. It is the best solution to alleviating traffic congestion in the entire region, a problem that has severe environmental impacts in itself. While it is unfortunate that this process has been further delayed, the decision has been made and we must now move forward by bringing all parties back to the table to review our options. That is why I am currently working with the Transportation Corridor Agencies' Ad Hoc Committee to consider next steps in pushing forward on this project that is so crucial to the future Southern California.