O.C. Toll Roads

* Regarding your Sept. 12 editorial “Toll Road Miscalculations”:

Orange County’s public toll roads, built and operated by the Transportation Corridor Agencies, are serving more than 240,000 cars a day, 1.3 million per week, nearly 70 million per year. The toll roads are a success.

More than 140,000 individuals, families and businesses own more than 250,000 electronic toll collection transponders; in the next year we’ll issue another 60,000.

Using revenue as a benchmark, the TCA is larger than 99% of all businesses in Orange County, with revenue last year of $77 million.

In August, the $1.6-billion refinancing of the Eastern corridor sold out to more than 80 of the largest and most financially sophisticated investors in the nation. Clearly, they believe in the present and future success of the toll road.

The final link in the 67-mile system, Foothill South, will alleviate growing congestion on Interstate 5.

Foothill South is a key element in the regional transportation master plan that allows compliance with federal air-quality standards. Eliminating it would endanger air-quality attainment for all of Southern California.

The alignment of Foothill South is no closer to Trestles Beach than the existing Interstate 5, more than a quarter of a mile. The majority of campgrounds on San Onofre State Beach are on the beach side of Interstate 5 and will not be affected in any manner by Foothill South.

To build Foothill South, the TCA will work carefully with state and federal regulators to balance the need for transportation improvements with protections for endangered plants and animals, just as it did successfully and in full compliance with the law on the San Joaquin Hills and Eastern corridors.

To date, the TCA has spent $150 million to create and maintain new habitat for wildlife and to promote wildlife protection. State and federal agencies have officially attested to the success of these efforts. The public toll roads provide traffic solutions today and will do so in the future.

WALTER D. KREUTZEN

Chief executive officer, TCA

Santa Ana

*

* Thank you for your great summary of toll road miscalculations. I have a few more unbelievable miscalculations to add.

One is that the San Joaquin Hills toll road is so dangerous in the rain, it has to be resurfaced, and we--the taxpayers--have to pay for it.

Another is that the toll roads go through wonderful wildlife habitat and yet none of the roads has been properly fenced; large numbers of deer have been killed, as have bobcats, coyotes, owls and a mountain lion.

It seems the public pays the toll whether or not it rides the road.

LAURA COHEN

Mission Viejo