Traffic Congestion Around Anaheim Stadium

After having spent over an hour in the traffic mess resulting from the pennant race, I was so frustrated, I decided to make my (and I am sure thousands of other Angels fans’) opinions known.

First, even after arriving over an hour early for the game (Oct. 11), the Anaheim Stadium parking lot and nearby auxiliary parking lots were full. I joined thousands of other fans in finding parking two miles from the stadium.

Second, the traffic congestion in leaving the game was gridlock at its worst.

I realize that these playoff games drew a maximum number of fans and that the parking and traffic congestion was to be expected. My anger, however, is a result of knowing that Anaheim Mayor Donald R. Roth supported the $5 million spent thus far on a lawsuit to develop the Anaheim Stadium parking lot. And he has voted to continue to spend more taxpayer monies on an attempt to build several 18-story office buildings and high-rise parking structures in our stadium lot. At the same time, Mayor Roth voted against the recommendations of the traffic engineer and refused to widen Orangewood Avenue prior to construction. Widening Orangewood was recommended to help alleviate anticipated traffic congestion.

I am a taxpayer, a longtime resident of Anaheim, an Angels fan. Neither I nor any of my neighbors were asked how we felt about taxpayer dollars being spent defending a proposed development that will surely result in a “black eye” to our city’s image. Arrogantly, Mayor Roth asks the fans to put up with a parking and traffic situation which can only worsen in the future, so some developer can make a lot of money developing the stadium lot.

Once this lot is developed, we won’t have to worry about finding parking two miles from the stadium, we can all bus in from Disneyland to watch the Angels.

PETER PETROVICH

Anaheim