New Road Does Take a Toll

Within the May 1 article, “New Road’s Tolls Not Up to Speed,” were two interesting points.

First, while Bob Muller, managing director, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., the toll road bond underwriters, mused that new toll roads routinely run 40% below projections during the first few months, we are past these first few months and the toll road performed at 51% below projections.

Second, Muller’s gleeful observation that growth in Orange County is likely to jam up the widened Santa Ana Freeway and his conclusion that “people will have nowhere else to go, so the toll road will really begin to gain ground” was disgusting.

The “anything for a buck” land-use approach of county supervisors in the late 1970s through the early 1990s created the transportation mess. As a result, the public has had to pay over and over again for transportation mitigations that benefit landowners and developers more than anyone.

It is not true, and has never been true, that the toll roads were privately funded.

Fees, taxes, bonds and tolls pay for the roads and the money comes from everyone’s pocket not just once, but multiple times.

It’s called an indirect subsidy, and the beneficiaries include a long list of extremely wealthy landowners and developers who needed these subsidies to support their greedy zoning applications.

Our county supervisors were only too happy to offer our money, our environment and our patience.

As developer William Lyon pointed out when applying for his helicopter pad in Coto de Caza, he needed the pad because the traffic was so bad.

It’s a sad day when someone realizes their dreams while causing harm and expense to so many others. And if we, the public, tolerate this self-serving, elitist attitude, I suppose we deserve every jammed-up road we sit on.

SHERRY LEE MEDDICK

Silverado

* Although it’s sad that the San Joaquin toll road is not bringing in the cash projected, I’m very happy. The minority of drivers that are paying tolls pave the way for me to enjoy a quick ride to wherever I want to go.

I disagree that the fanfare for the “most widely marketed road in history” has not reached enough potential users. The dilemma for the toll road is that there no longer is a traffic problem in Orange County. The radio, television and billboard ads don’t work because we are too smart. Why pay for what is free?

During the Los Angeles Olympics, we discovered that if a few vehicles are diverted off clogged freeways, magic happens and presto, it is as if you’re driving on the open roads of the 1950s.

I want to thank all of you who pay so I can go fast for free. With the money I save on tolls, I’ve invested in a gym membership for two, and have enough left to buy new, fancy workout shoes every couple of months.

CHRIS HEGGE

Laguna Beach

* From what I’ve read in The Times, the toll road traverses remote areas and has not been equipped with call boxes. Also, it is not well lit at night except at the toll station, which would not bother me, but again, it has no call boxes.

No call boxes means more time and a reliance on others in a day when many “good” people won’t stop to help, and it may be a traffic violation to do so.

Perhaps if I had a car phone, I’d use the tollway, but for now it is not worth the risk.

It may only be a matter of time until some stranded motorist gets harmed alongside this road. Call boxes should have been installed when the road was constructed.

JACQUELINE L. ORAVITZ

Mission Viejo