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REGION: Thousands turn out for toll road hearing
By DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | ∞
Oceanside Councilwoman Esther Sanchez was one of 657 speakers attending a hearing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds regarding a proposed toll road near the coveted Trestle surfing area at San Onofre State Beach. (Photo by Waldo Nilo - Staff Photographer) 
Sara Honadle of San Marcos attended the hearing at at Del Mar Fairground's O'Brien Hall on Monday regarding a proposed toll road near the Trestle surfing area at San Onofre State beach. (Photo by Waldo Nilo - Staff Photographer) 
San Diego Councilwoman Donna Frye, center in blue suit, prepared for her presentation at the toll road hearing at Del Mar Fairground's on Monday. (Photo by Waldo Nilo - Staff Photographer) DEL MAR ---- Nearly 2,000 people filed into a cavernous and noisy meeting hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Monday to sound off at a federal public hearing on a proposed toll road that would pass through one of Southern California's most popular parks and near a world-class surf break.
A total of 657 people signed up to speak, complying with strict ground rules established for the hearing by the U.S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Federal officials expected only 150 to speak during the 10 hours allotted for the public airing of opinions about one of the area's most controversial road projects.
The California Coastal Commission rejected the project in February after environmentalists and other opponents argued that the 16-mile, six-lane road that would cut through San Onofre State Beach Park would wipe out several endangered or threatened coastal species, decimate an ancient American Indian burial ground and dampen the world-class waves at Trestles.
But the Orange County agency that hopes to build and finance the proposed $1.3 billion road, the Transportation Corridor Agencies, appealed that decision to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, a branch of the U.S. Commerce Department.
San Onofre State Park is on leased federal land at Camp Pendleton.
During the afternoon, the crowd thinned considerably. Some project opponents, wary of the administration's threat to shut down the meeting if it became unruly, displayed signs admonishing colleagues to be "quiet, please."
As a result, the meeting was quieter than the boisterous February state hearing on the issue attended by 3,500.
Still, many project opponents and supporters openly defied the administration's call to refrain from clapping, cheering, booing and waving signs.
And Jane Luxton, the administration general counsel who presided over the hearing, repeatedly reminded the crowd of the rules.
"I'm going to have to ask you to please cut out the cheering," a visibly frustrated Luxton said. "Please express your opinion by giving a thumbs up or a thumbs down."
Many did use their thumbs. While doing that, some opponents waved dollar bills.
"It's all about greed," said Niko Theris of Laguna Beach, explaining why he pulled out a bill.
Some opponents wore dark green T-shirts that read, "Save the park, stop the toll road."
Others were clad in black T-shirts that urged "Save Trestles," with former President Reagan's mug on the front and a quote about San Onofre on the back.
As governor four decades ago, Reagan signed into law a bill to create the park.
Construction workers in favor of the project filled the building, their orange T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Less traffic, more jobs."
The agency and other proponents, who include Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said the toll road extension shores up national security by providing an alternative to Interstate 5 in the event of a wildfire or accident at the nearby San Onofre nuclear power plant.
"When those fires in San Diego happened and they had to evacuate all the people, they had one exit route and that was backed up for hours. People were trying to drive 60 miles and it took them five hours," said Lance MacLean, an agency board member. "It's in the interest of national security that you have an alternate route."
The hearing was being held to gather comment from the public, elected officials, tribal members and others.
Federal officials say they will not rule until later this year.
"Traffic in Southern California is worse than anywhere else in the United States," said Linda Lindholm, a Laguna Niguel councilwoman, who argued in favor of the road.
Anaheim Councilwoman Lucille Kring said it's not just during the rush hour when cars slow to a crawl, with so many people traveling to regional attractions such as SeaWorld, Legoland and Disneyland.
"Traffic congestion is actually worse on the weekend than during the week," Kring said.
Oceanside Councilman Jack Feller, who supports the project, called the toll-road extension a "practical solution" to the swelling traffic congestion along Interstate 5, the coast's major artery.
Feller said the San Diego County economy, which is infused with $7.7 billion that 32 million visitors spend annually in the area, would benefit from an alternative to driving I-5.
He said half of the visitors get here by car.
Oceanside Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, who is on the opposite side of the issue, said the toll road would do more harm than good.
"It will not reduce congestion," Sanchez, said. "It will, in fact, create it."
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer joined Sanchez and other elected officials in calling for the federal government to uphold the earlier state decision.
"This is not a compelling national interest," Lockyer said. "And there are reasonable alternatives."
California Department of Transportation Director Will Kempton disagreed, saying the alternative that opponents cite ---- widening I-5 in south Orange County ---- is too expensive.
It "would cost $2.8 billion ---- money we don't have," Kempton said.
The $875 million construction cost for the Highway 241 toll road's four-lane phase and its undetermined land cost would be paid by the highway's motorists, rather than California taxpayers.
The road would later be expanded to six lanes.
Traffic issues aside, Solana Beach Councilwoman Lesa Heebner called the road "one of the most environmentally destructive" transportation projects ever proposed in the region.
And Susan Jordan, executive director of the California Coastal Protection Network in Santa Barbara, called it a transportation project of strictly local concern ---- and therefore off-limits for a federal ruling overturning a state decision.
Not only that, Jordan said, the road is primarily an Orange County transportation issue, as it is part of that county's planned and mostly built 67-mile toll road system.
"Keep it in Orange County if you want, but don't destroy a state park in San Diego," she said.
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Gringo wrote on Sep 22, 2008 2:38 PM:Simple sulution: Live closer to your work or change jobs closer to where you live. If your destination is longer commute than 40 minutes one way with no traffic than you live too far from your work and you're part of the problem.
Thanks Gringo wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:43 PM:We'll all make sure to tell our bosses to move the office closer to where we live. That shouldn't be too hard. Or, maybe we can just all buy campers and live in the parking lot at work. I'm sure the boss would just LOVE that. I'm sure many would prefer to live closer to work, but that just isn't the way it works in the real world. Build the road or don't build it, but do it based on REALITY, not on dreams or wishes.
To Gringo wrote on Sep 22, 2008 5:16 PM:Yes, I made a test-run from Vista to San Clemente for a possible job. I did'nt take the job. It was too far from home.
Ask why wrote on Sep 22, 2008 5:42 PM:If the road is needed to badly, then it should be public not private
Pragmatic wrote on Sep 22, 2008 5:59 PM:Of course it will induce more development. That's what this is all about -- the money for the DC lobbyists came from developers, certainly not commuters.
I-5 should be widened.
Consider the Source wrote on Sep 22, 2008 7:45 PM:When I see most of the proponents of the toll road extension are either politicians or union workers, it's pretty easy for me to make up my mind about what side I'm on.
volvosteel wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:30 PM:I keep readin about this, and have followed this for all the years it has been around, Im completly suprised people are saying dont build it, the builder has changed the direction/location of the road so many time's i cant be sure anymore where it goes, The land it is being built on is federal land, what are you all gonna do when the base decides to shoot missels onto it? I dont live in OC or SD and it always amazes me to see SD county just outright target its surrounding neighbors. if they dont build it i dont want to hear a thing about I5 or I15 not being widened when you had to escape for whatever reason. Dont drive north from now on, go through Imperial county there the only ones that you dont complain about.
mickey wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:35 PM:I'm concerned about the extinction of the pocket mouse. Mice are are so fragile.
George wrote on Sep 22, 2008 10:05 PM:The people care more about parks and preserving a world class surf break- than the pockets of Orange county developers. Jack Feller should move to orange county.
Widen I5 wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:19 AM:Yes, it should be widened, but who will pay for all the property in San Clemente that will need to be condemed? Then there is the property in Dana Pt. and San Juan Capistrano too.
This Road was planned and talked about back in the 1970's when I was growin up in San Clemente. Of course, as witht he case of teh Toll Road through Laguna Niguel to Newport Beach these things take time and MONEY. Why a toll road built by private investors? Because the State has finally realized it is cheaper to build a road that way as opposed to taxing everybody again and again and again, every time a new road is needed. But alas, we now have environmentalists who have moved into the area and most of the are uneducated NIMBYs who, even though they may hold graduate degrees, continue to believe everything they hear without checking the facts. It is no different thatn ll those who keep trying to tell us the world is warming and will soon over heat. Uneducated fools with Masters Degrees and PhDs.
Of course this who thing is about MONEY, including saving money and the planet too by not having all those cars stuck in long lines of traffic. But, yes, if you buld it they will come. Just as they did when I5 was first built, and when it was widened, and as they will continue to come until there is no more space left. But, why worry, the world is going to end soon from Global Warming. Waves affected at Tressles? Global Warming will destroy those too. so, who cares if this road causes a few problems. Bet you will find that it causes no harm what so ever, or even improves the break!
Now that I've rambled on like the fools at the meeting, I think I'll hit the road so I can get to work; it takes about 1.5 hours these days!
Inland Empire to Coast wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:28 AM:Why not leave it up to vote by the people of San Diego County and Orange County. Why not leave it out of the hands of people open to the wiles of the Washington lobbyists ? If an alternative route is needed, the one that should be built is to create a freeway out of the Ortega Highway, which certainly would make good sense and not upset the number of people. It would serve to connect the inland empire with the coast. Now there's an idea.
Amazing wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:50 AM:How thousands can turn out for a toll road, but our borders are wide open and people are still apathetic to our nation security problem.
These protesters concerned about the environment impact because of a road, but say nothing about what illegal immigrants do to our environment. They need to go down to the border and see the tons of trash left behind and then take a little hike through a local canyon.
to Amazing wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:21 AM:You might want to sit down before you read this because it may come as a huge shock to you. But every issue in the world is not connected to illegal immigration. I know folks like yourself try to make it so, but it aint so.
Commuter wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:32 AM:Man that new toll road would help me with my 64 mile commute. I am all for it!
More wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:49 AM:These hippies are living in a fantasy land. I-5 is already a disaster in peak hours and weekends. The California coastal region is rediculously over-populated and congested. It's only going to get worse with time no matter how much they try to wish it away. This project is going to be an eventuality whether it's this year or ten years from now. The inland portion of San Onofre park sucks anyway; nothing but scrub brush and cactus. The surfer hippies are going to object just the same to widening I-5, which will have even more potential to screw up Trestles. Now or later hippies... I kind of doubt illegal aliens had much to do with this one, but I'm OK with blaming them anyway since they drive too.
Listening to Lies wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:27 AM:Traffic is like the sunshine tax. If you want to live here, you're going to have to deal with it. Not to mention, most residents have a choice where they live and work.
In our state of drought and energy resource strains, we should be making community choices to limit unsustainable growth, not encourage more of the same! The taxpayers will pay for the upkeep of the road - the 71 is near bankrupt, and CalTrans will be responsible for maintenance. Don't listen to the convenient lies of the TCA that promise relief from traffic congestion - they are in bed with the developers who will create MORE!
To To Gringo and Gringo wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:34 AM:Easy to say when you are sitting at home sucking off the taxpayers. Get a job and maybe you will know what commuting is all about.
JD wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:42 AM:There was once a time when the only way north and south was a two lane road. A bridge still stands near trestles. Ask the folks making that trip how long it took. Same in Riverside and San Diego counties before the 15 was put in. 395 was the only way. Ask those folks how long it took to go north and south. I think it is time for people to understand one thing, widen the 5 or put in the toll road. The toll road splits off of the 5 and takes you to 3 more routes to travel and bypass traffic. What will happen when, eventually, the surfer nature save the planet and all else dudes and dudettes are stuck in traffic for hours and can't even get to the coast to partake in those activities. I also can't wait for the politicians that want to travel north from San Diego and have to turn around because of the ungodly amount of traffic and congestion. I can't wait to get out of here and move to Alaska and help our next Vice President shoot the wildlife. (People Eating The Animals)you know!!!!
To gringo wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:44 AM:you need to come to reality, and use spell check every now and then.
JimRT wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:52 AM:Two points:
1) This will benefit Orange County people not San Diego county people?
** Do you really think people drive down here for work. San Diego county does not pay as well as Orange county.
2) You made a test drive from vista to San Clemente and it was too far?
** I don't know what kind of work you do but if it doesn't pay enough to make it worth the drive to San Clemente (given the increase in pay it should be) then you should change jobs.
Personally, I don’t work in Orange county anymore because I don’t like taking the train and I got this thing about being stuck between Oceanside and San Clemente with car problems.
Bucky wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:57 AM:The Road is needed, that's clear. The only mistake the toll road people made was not to pay the bribe to the Surfrider Foundation for their support. That is a bunch of power hungry nuts. By the way even one of their own members who is a scientist says that the toll road will have NO AFFECT ON TRESTLES. It's all Hysterical nonsense. The road is needed, build it.
esteban wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:16 AM:Forgive my ignorance cuz I haven't followed this too closely, but how is the road gonna mess with the surf? May be I can check the surf better with the new road instead of being chased off Basilone by the USMC. I guess with easier surf checks, you get more kooks in the water.
Julianne wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:39 AM:The important issue here that is being down played is that three quarters of the people that showed up at the 241 toll road hearing in Del Mar Ca. were against the toll road and against the TCA taking over any percentage of a state park to build this road. All America's state parks are at risk if the decision against this road is overturned. A precedent will be set and developers across America could point to San Onofre and the outcome. They could pave over Yellowstone or Yosemite next. No joke. No smiling faces. This is a serious issue for America. Our whole state park system is at risk based on this decision. This issue is about more than just surfers that love San Onofre. All the smiles pictured in the Register slide show on 9/23/08 were not at all usual in evidence at this hearing.I noticed that some of the Orange county media were concentrating most of their interviews on the TCA workers in the orange shirts who were given the day off with pay to attend this hearing. OCRegister photographs made it look like there were more people there supporting the toll road when in fact there were only about one fourth of the attendees that were supporters. The press were mostly interviewing surfers or children who were opposed to the toll road not State Park officials. Most of the photographs of opponents of the toll road were of children and the carefree looking young people. This impression negates the seriousness of this situation.It looked like the Orange county media was pretty much on the side of the TCA.
It was mentioned several times that there were 8 viable solutions to locations for this toll road to relieve traffic and the TCA took the easiest one, straight through this state park that is the fifth most visited in California. If this toll road goes through future generations can say they wish they had seen California's great State Parks and "protected" areas before the developers had a hand in eliminating them because they were to stubborn too find a way around them. But then we'll still have "parks" like Disneyland that we can pay $100 each to visit.
Toll Road to Nowhere wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:18 PM:All this toll road does is propogate more development on the back side of Camp Pendleton. Developers are frothing at the mouth so they can build more houses with more people with more cars to put on the road. Instead of traffic backing up at Las Posas or the rest stop into Oceanside the roll road will bottleneck at Christianitos and Basilone road. Thank you Councilwoman Esther Sanchez of Oceanside for standing up for the people of the State of California that do not want a road thru a State Park. And a big fat booo for Councilmembers Jack Feller and Jerry Kern who stand side by side with their hands out to developers. A toll road thru a state park is not an acceptable alternative.
Karen B wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:38 PM:Who are we to upset the natural habitats of endangered species? Shouldn't the sanctity of thier existance take precedent over our quality of life? It's time for us to realized that we are really not that much more special than other organisms.
Nick wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:47 PM:Guess what "Esteban"? There's more Barnies in the water than ever before...just the way it is amigo.
Oh how I miss surfing in the 80's, Coastal North County was a hidden gem. Nowadays...not so much.
That's why you don't ever see me surfing on the weekends in the summer, especially in the summertime.
My pops worked ad San O for about 10 years and I used to go to work with him in the summer and spend the day surfing Old Mans till he was done and then he would paddle out and join me...I miss ya Pops (R.I.P.)
I say screw the Toll Road and all those who want it...you don't like traffic???
You should have never moved here in the first place!!!
To Esteban wrote on Sep 23, 2008 2:57 PM:Excuse the ignorance? but you still have a comment. Probably all the anti toll road supporters are cop haters too! Get a job!
Feller and Kern wrote on Sep 23, 2008 4:34 PM:Of course Jack Feller and Jerry Kern would be for the toll road. Remember they want to turn Oceanside into a major city of some 500,000 or more. This toll road only opens up more of North County for development which means more people. We don't want more people we have enough coming up from Mexico ,we don't need the LA and Orange County crowd too. They leave their crowded homes in LA and Orange and the first thing they want to do is maximize the population like where they left. Lets make it harder for LA and Orange County to come to North County not easier. When you get the money state, (it not as if we don't pay for it with our gas taxes etc.) widen I-5 and put in what you need. We don't need a Toll road in a pristine park area so we can pay to drive on the toll road. Makes no sense we pay twice while the developers and constrution companies get rich. No wonder KFC are approving cement plants and asphalt plants in Oceanside right and left. Do they know something we don't and already have a sweetheart deal made?
Boondoggle wrote on Sep 23, 2008 4:35 PM:The current 241 road has done nothing to relieve traffic on the 91 fwy. It connects the 91 just West of Green Valley Pkwy to the 5 fwy at the Tustin / Irvine border for about $4. It is almost deserted at all times during the day. The southern part of the toll road is nice for the people of Ladera Ranch to return to their rapdily depreciating homes everyday.
The 73 toll raod has done nothing to relieve congestion on the 405 and 5 through Mission Viejo. The widening of the 5 / 405 interchange and the introduction of carpool lanes have helped.
All you have to do is drive through L.A. to see that every intersection of freeways has a traffic jam. A perfect example of the fact that more freeways do not alleviate traffic.
grj wrote on Sep 23, 2008 4:54 PM:Greed greed greed a proposal for a toll road that will come with more ugly development of over priced houses by greed homebuilding developers. Enough already with the overbuilding, Encinitas is now like little orange county, it sucks.
I live in Neither wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:37 PM:But isn't Trestles closer to people in Orange County than it is to people in San Diego COUNTY (Oceanside.) Actually, I think Newport Beach and Oceanside are equal distance. So that leaves at least 250,000 people in Orange County who are closer to Trestles and San Onofre than San Diegans. I think this is about SD trying to isiolate itself from the rest of California like they always do. SD and OC to me are like bickering sisters. This is totally about greed, rather than "preserving nature." How many of the people attending that meeting even go to San Onofre on a regular basis? Possibly a fair amount, but still...just questions to be asked.
volvosteel wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:55 PM:To all those who seem to not want this in there back yard, ill say this right off i live about 4 streets from Highway 74 in Lake Elsinore!. Make It A Freeway Already Will You Caltrans, ill be happy to move when i get tired of the noise, its needed, oh yea it would also be great if on the OC Side you tie the 241 Into it, then we would never ever have to drive in SD County and you could block the 15 and 5 freeways and let those who hate us notherners go east to get out. I service SD County on a daily basis because the tech's down there do poor service, should i stop driving on your freeways now because i dont live there?
Volvo Steel wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:18 AM:Unfortunately you bought your home at the wrong time Vovlo Steel. All the people who have paid for overpriced homes in Lake Elsinore, Perris, Murrieta etc only bought there because they could not afford SD County. You can see how fast developers can ruin an area just by looking at the wall-to-wall homes in the Temecula Valley. The developers caused your driving nightmare not SD County. Volvo Steel you just don't get it! We are all led by the nose by those who have the money. If you can sell your house in Temecula Valley , buy something in SD County while are prices are down here too. I know of numerous foreclosures in any city you want to live.
JD wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:29 PM:Well, when the lease expires that was granted by the Federal Government to the State, maybe ICE, (Immigrations and Cusstoms Enforcement) can move in and utilize the entire area as a holding pen for undocumented, oh wait illegal aliens, much like drug dealers, uh, I mean unlicensed pharmacist dudes! That way, we won't have to worry about it any more. The parks gone, the beach is gone, and people here can visit their relatives before they are deported by placing this sorely needed facility between the two bickering sisters!!!! Julianne, the tollroad was planned and shown on maps when the state park service signed the lease for the park. The San Mateo campground was built in 1989, the lease expires in 2021. Maybe, just maybe, the addition of the toll road may solidify the need to keep the state park and have the Federal Government sell or grant the land to the State, which will then "Save Trestles". Just some food for thought for all you naysayers and naydoers out there. Wake up and smell what you're surfin in!
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