O.C. Tollway, Tactics, Financing Generate Broadsides, Warnings

The article “Empty Denver Toll Road Called O.C. Tollway Omen” (Nov. 27) provides both a detailed account of the status of these troubled tollways and some light on what is happening behind the scenes. These candid and revealing comments by the insiders as to the troubles of the (Orange County) Transportation Authority stand in stark contrast to the upbeat announcements from the Tollway Agency that all is well with these projects.

For those who have followed the course of the tollways, and especially the San Joaquin Hills tollway, the financial problems are not a surprise. The general population of Orange County, however, has been getting a badly distorted version of the status and prospects of the project.

The most disturbing part of the article is the revelation that the county and the tollway supporters are trying any and all ways to get into the pockets of the taxpayers. They seem to have forgotten that the toll roads were sold to the county and to the state on the basis that they would be entirely self-supporting and would not require any tax money. Public support for the projects at that time was predicated on this principle.

The tollway agency tried to perpetuate this myth by publishing the results of a recent survey that claims half the respondents favored the tollway. What they didn’t ask was: Would you favor the toll roads if they have to be paid for by taxes (either by imposing new taxes or by taking tax funds away from other country services)? The fact that they didn’t ask the question would indicate they knew the answer would be a resounding NO.

When one considers this article’s information, along with recent stories of appointed government commissioners overriding the recommendations of their technical staffs, e.g., Fish and Game authority regarding the gnatcatcher, the Coastal Commission regarding the construction of the tollway over the wetlands and the UC Irvine chancellor selling university property to the tollway, we must all get concerned about this project running roughshod over the rights, duties and protections of our social and political systems.

JOHN A. BING

Laguna Beach