Tollway Agency’s Sucker Punches

In the last week the people of Orange County have suffered a one-two sucker punch.

One was the decision of the Fitch rating company to issue a BBB rating on the bonds proposed to finance the San Joaquin Hills toll road. Although Moody’s and Standard & Poor did not find the financial plan worthy of a rating, this company did--just a notch above junk bond.

As a result, these bonds may be offered to a public that is unaware of the controversy surrounding the toll road. They may not know of the 8,000 who walked in Laguna Canyon on Nov. 11, 1989, to save the canyon from development and from the toll road. They may not know that thousands have signed petitions indicating they would not travel or pay tolls on a road that trashes the last undeveloped canyon between Malibu and the Mexican border. They may not know that $78 million of the public’s money is being spent to preserve this land as a coastal wilderness park, so that all Orange County residents can find a way to escape the urbanization around us and find peace here at home.

What those potential buyers will know is that the taxpayer will pick up the tab for at least $120 million when things go wrong. The Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) was able to secretly negotiate that deal with Congress last year. Remember the S&Ls;?

The second blow landed (Feb. 26). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to a “no jeopardy” clause for the toll road when that agency rules March 17 on the listing of the California gnatcatcher as threatened or endangered. That listing has the potential to halt all toll-road construction. Friday we learned that the TCA, the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been “conferencing” about the issue out of the public eye. When I asked why the public was unaware of the conferencing and whether other public agencies could participate, I was told yes, we could, but that the conferencing is over.

I’m so mad I can’t see straight. I don’t mind losing a fair fight, but this fight has never been fair. The secret, sweetheart deals include an exemption from the federal rule instituted to protect parkland from new roads; federal loan guarantees of $120 million because projected revenue will not cover the cost of the interest on the bonds for at least four years; a “no competition” agreement with Caltrans that will not permit new free roads or transit that might compete for ridership with the toll road; and most recently the TCA spent $93,000 on a lobbyist to secure a favorable ruling from the Coastal Commission, despite the staff’s strong recommendation against it. In fact, all along professional staff people have told us this is a bad road.

Some would have us believe it is a jobs issue. Can you imagine how many real, long-lasting jobs could be provided by investing the $1.3-billion cost of this 15-mile road?

People are doing their best to fight back. Is anybody out there listening?

LIDA LENNEY

Mayor, City of Laguna Beach