Raise the Gas Tax to Mitigate Growth

Your story on San Juan Capistrano being overrun by growth reflects nationwide problems with urban sprawl (“San Juan Capistrano Fears Being Overrun by Growth,” Aug. 27). I do not know whether the problem is the developer building 14,000 homes on neighboring land or the families buying the tract homes and driving their sport-utility vehicles to work. I do know that the term “master-planned communities” is an oxymoron since the plans never take full account of the costs of sprawling growth, such as the loss of quality of life in surrounding communities. Neighbors of Playa Vista may soon become aware of that.

Since most of the hidden costs relate to roads and increased vehicular traffic, my best shot at mitigation would be to reduce the inherent subsidies in automobile transport. Follow the Europeans who face similar problems and increase the tax on gasoline. Use the proceeds to mitigate problems facing San Juan Capistrano and similar locales. Build an alternative offramp from the freeway, guide traffic around rather than through the historic core, and aggressively plan for, develop and promote attractive transit alternatives.

Andrew Shaddock

Manhattan Beach