Ready for Governor’s Signature : Orange County Toll Road Bill Zips Through Senate

The Senate, without a word of debate, passed legislation Friday to allow construction in Orange County of California’s first public toll roads.

The Senate passed a bill by Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim) and sent it to Gov. George Deukmejian, who has said he is inclined to sign it but wants to see the bill in its final form.

The vote was 28 to 6.

The measure would allow two Orange County agencies made up of the county and several cities to build toll roads to ease traffic on the crowded Santa Ana, San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways.

“I’m in shock,” Seymour said of the ease with which the once-controversial proposal made it through the upper house. “We just lobbied like hell.”

Also lobbying for the bill were politically influential Orange County businesses, particularly land developers, who see the toll roads as one answer to the recent outcry over rapid population growth and the traffic tie-ups that have come with it.

“I think it’s marvelous,” said Stan Oftelie, executive director of the Orange County Transportation Commission. “It’s recognition that Orange County has unique transportation problems and you need unique solutions to solve it.”

If the governor signs the measure, Oftelie said, the first toll road could be under construction by 1991. That could occur if a citizens group now evaluating possible routes--and due to announce its findings Sept. 25--selects the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor now being graded between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, and through Laguna Hills.

If the panel recommends one of two other new highway routes under development in south Orange County, construction would not begin for more than five years, Oftelie said.

There are three planned freeways in south Orange County. They are the San Joaquin Hills corridor, the Foothill corridor linking East Orange and the Laguna Freeway and the Eastern Corridor between the Riverside Freeway and San Clemente.

Routes Not Completed

Only the San Joaquin project has been designated a state and federal highway eligible for state and federal funds. The exact routes for the Eastern and Foothill freeways have not been decided and construction is not expected until the mid-1990s.

In addition, federal funds will cover only one toll road in Orange County.

Under recently enacted federal legislation, Orange County is eligible to receive 35% in federal funds for an experimental toll road. Since developer fees are expected to finance 50% of the new freeway or turnpike construction in the south county, tolls would be needed only for the remaining 15% of the construction cost.

A previous study commissioned by the OCTC indicated that tolls could generate at least that amount, if not more.

Referring to legislators who criticized toll roads as “un-Californian,” Oftelie said they are “truly Orange Countian--You get what you pay for.”

Former county Supervisor Bruce Nestande, a member of the state Transportation Commission, said of Friday’s vote: “I think there’s joy in Mudville.”

Another Bill in Trouble

Nestande explained that although he was pleased with passage of the measure, taking full advantage of it would be difficult because another bill to speed highway construction was still in serious trouble late Friday. That bill would allow Caltrans to hire private firms for highway design and engineering work because of state staff shortages.

Meanwhile, Seymour said he believes that the Southern Californians who will use the turnpikes will accept them despite the state’s tradition of financing freeways through taxes on gasoline.

“Our freeways are such parking lots that I think people are ready for anything,” he added.

The measure, which was passed 45 to 30 by the Assembly on Tuesday, would require that the toll roads be built parallel to existing freeways. Tolls collected could be used only for construction of the turnpikes and would have to be terminated once bonds sold to finance the projects were repaid.

“I expected some verbal opposition and I had counted 24 pretty solid votes,” Seymour said. “He (Deukmejian) will sign it. I would be flabbergasted if he vetoed it.”

A Thumbs-Up

Teased by fellow senators because he had described the bill as “very controversial” before it turned out that no one spoke against the measure, Seymour replied with a thumbs-up victory gesture.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) opposed the bill but did not work actively against it. Nor did he seek a caucus position on the measure. “That was critical,” Seymour said.

The Anaheim Republican said he favors placing tolls on the planned Eastern corridor, which would bring relief to the Costa Mesa Freeway (Route 55).

“As long as there’s an alternate route, I think the concept will be successful,” he said.