Bill That Could Block Toll Road Advances
A proposed law that could thwart plans to build a toll road through San Onofre State Park won approval Tuesday from the same state Senate committee that rejected the measure two weeks ago.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles), is aimed at protecting the state’s remaining parkland from the disruption and environmental harm wrought by traffic.
Orange County transportation planners, who want to build the toll road through San Onofre, strongly oppose the measure. Environmentalists are equally vocal in supporting it.
The park contains some of the last unspoiled coastal land in Southern California. The road would split the park in two and use about 30% of its inland area.
Hayden said the dispute in Orange County had slowed the progress of his bill, which pertains to parks across California.
“It’s a looming statewide problem,” he said. “As the population of California grows and subdivisions expand into valleys, foothills and farmland, there’s going to be pressure to put roads through parks.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee, with two members missing, approved the measure 7 to 4 and sent it to the Senate.
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