91’s Promises Are Stuck on Slow Road to Corona
Re “Toll Increase Possible for Express Lanes” (Feb. 8):
I wonder if the OCTA board of directors and executive director were once used-car salesmen. “Bait and switch” was a common practice in used-car sales until the government cracked down and made it illegal. Perhaps the district attorney’s office should investigate OCTA for the same practice.
When OCTA officials endeavored to garner public and legislative support for the purchase of the 91 Express Lanes, they alluded to reducing the tolls and even eliminating them for high-occupancy vehicles. Though they did not promise, they created the impression that that was their intention. Now they want an increase to prevent overuse. That’s a joke.
The Express Lanes were developed to attract traffic and reduce congestion on the Riverside Freeway, not to limit it. Limiting traffic on the Express Lanes will only increase the congestion on the 91, defeating the original purpose. Consequently, when the scheduled improvements begin this year, traffic will be more congested then it is now and there will greater public outrage.
Joseph W. Massey
Orange
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Re “New Lane Will Ease Crush on 91 in Canyon,” Jan. 11:
Let’s see if we have the story straight. Years ago, Caltrans had no money to relieve the congestion on the 91 Freeway leaving Orange County toward Corona. Along comes a private concern willing to take a huge risk and construct a private tollway. The state and local officials are 100% pleased to have someone even consider the idea.
The tollway is built, and for the first time there is an unobstructed roadway people can drive.
Once the tollway is successful and operating properly, officials want the lanes back, they want the land back, they want to give the people the freeway lanes for free, they want control.
In another case of “They did it, but I could have done it, and now I want it so I can do it my way,” once the public officials took control, the promises are collapsing like a house of cards. The toll is going to rise, and there will be no free rides in the toll lanes for cars with three or more passengers. And there are no plans or consensus on what is the best course of action and what the ramifications are of each option.
R. Hamers
Irvine