Is Orange County Anti-Tax in Its Refusal to Vote for Freeways?
Re “A Missing Link in Transit Planning” (Aug. 12): The decision for Orange County residents to refuse participation in solving the Southland’s transportation problem by taxing itself is understandable and has nothing to do with conservative ideology.
It is clear that any improvements in the interstate system within Orange County will predominantly benefit the commuting population of Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Any improvements would encourage further developments in those regions, only to result in further congestion in Orange County.
Orange County is blessed with excellent arterial highways that serve local needs and are alternatives to the freeway system. Orange County residents understand this and do not wish to subsidize the transportation needs of others.
Transportation improvements in the neighboring counties are seen as serving those communities directly, where improvements in Orange County would service residents of other counties.
The transportation needs outlined in the article are intercounty, which is why the state must provide the funding and coordinate the efforts of the affected counties.
A statewide transportation sales tax or assessment that allocates funds for regional transportation needs would go a long way to improve cooperation among regional neighbors, which would only enrich the economy of the state.
PIERRE HANDL
Anaheim
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