Some Ideas for Toll Road Officials

* Re “San Joaquin Tollway Gets $40-Million Transfusion,” Feb. 11:

Operators of the San Joaquin toll road system just don’t seem to get it.

If the toll road existed as a true business entity in the private business world, management would immediately take action to plug the hole in the dike. Perhaps some enhanced creativity and expedient action are in order.

The toll road agency’s plans to “step up consideration of variable pricing” is a good start. Why don’t they “just do it”?

Is a public, bureaucratic hearing really necessary to determine variable pricing’s viability? If history is any indication, consumer opinion hasn’t seemed to have had much effect on Transportation Corridor Agencies’ decisions anyway.

Another idea: How about round-trip discounts? This might give the consumer incentive to use the toll road both ways during the same day. I’m sure they can program the computer billing system to recognize the same transponder making a same-day round-trip.

Increase the speed limit on the San Joaquin. This proposal would add value because users would save even more time using the toll road. Seventy to 75 mph sounds about right. Most cars are traveling that fast anyway, so why not liberate them a little?

DON DANIELSON

Huntington Beach