How About Lowering Tolls for a Change?

Re “Financial Jam Mires O.C.’s Toll Highways,” Feb. 11:

Tollway operators consistently have addressed low ridership by raising tolls, as if oblivious to the fact that those of us who avoid the tollway do so because of the outrageous cost. Hasn’t it ever occurred to them that lowering the tolls might attract a greater volume? Hello?

Alitta Kullman

Laguna Hills

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The recent increase to $3 for anyone who passes the toll booths on the San Joaquin Hills toll road now means that one entering southbound at Newport Coast Drive and exiting at Laguna Canyon Road pays about $1 per mile. That’s far more than the cost on the infamously expensive Italian Autostrada.

The cost should be based only on the distance driven. Wouldn’t lowering the fee attract more users?

Burton Karson

Corona del Mar