Two citizens groups opposed to the Interstate 5 expansion say they will hold interactive, town hall-style meetings on the massive project this summer to counter what they contend will be strictly controlled public workshops on the plans by state transportation officials.

The Committee Against Freeway Expansion and Prevent Los Angeles Gridlock Usurping the Environment say debate ---- for or against the project ---- is welcome at their meetings.

A spokesman for the California Department of Transportation, the agency leading the expansion, said their meetings are open to residents with all viewpoints, too.

But Caltrans' five "open-house" style get-togethers ---- the first of which is set for July 27 at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center ---- will not include full audience question-and-answer sessions, spokesman Hayden Manning said.

"We've noticed when we had those (town hall) style of meetings, some people don't get a chance to speak," Manning said. "They're really been dominated by 5 to 7 percent of the audience."

As a result, Caltrans has moved toward the open house format: The public this summer will see numerous charts and exhibits at different "stations," detailing the expansion options, according to an agency description.

Caltrans representatives will be available to speak one on one with attendees or in small groups.

The biggest I-5 expansion option would result in a 14-lane freeway from La Jolla to Oceanside, including four carpool lanes, at a cost of up to $4.5 billion.

The freeway is now eight lanes in most stretches.

The public at the Caltrans meetings can also approach stenographers to provide comments on the project's thick set of environmental documents released earlier this month, Manning said.

A 90-day public comment period on those reports, which is twice as long as a typical comment period, runs through Oct. 7.

Still, members of the citizens groups say the Caltrans approach isn't good enough.

"We have been to Caltrans' idea of a meeting and we do not get information," said Nicole Spaid, a Del Mar attorney and founder of PLAGUE. "When you ask a critical question, (the response from Caltrans officials) 'I don't know.' If you ask it again or you try to pursue it, you're ignored."

Manning said agency officials are willing to answer all questions, and follow up when they do not immediately have an answer.

He suggested residents follow up by e-mail if a question isn't answered.

Steve Goetsch of Solana Beach, CAFE's organizer, said his town hall meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, 120 Stevens Ave.

He described his past experience at Caltrans meetings this way: "I thought the interactions (between the public and Caltrans officials) have been generally pretty weak. If you wanted to make a comment, you went over in the corner and told a stenographer your comments. That isn't the spark, the charge and interaction you get in town hall meetings we have had in this country for over 400 years."

Spaid, who said a date was not yet set for her town hall meeting, said her group would invite Caltrans to its meeting; Goetsch said he was still considering that.

Manning, Caltrans' spokesman, said the agency had no immediate plans to attend the citizen-led meetings.

Mike Byron, a political science lecturer at several North County colleges, said the open-house format of Caltrans meetings is probably meant to prevent combative discussions from people who are already philosophically opposed to the project.

"I think (Caltrans is) aware that they're going to have resistance in the community and they're anticipating that and trying to deal with it," Byron said.

He added that Caltrans is probably trying to attract residents curious about the project, not necessarily those who have already made up their minds about it.

To have comments included on the record about the I-5 project, residents must speak with stenographers at the Caltrans meetings or submit them in writing to the agency.

Submit comments via e-mail to I-5_NCC_EIR_EIS@dot.ca.gov.

To see the report and find a schedule of Caltrans public meetings, visit www.keepsandiegomoving.com and click on "I-5 Corridor."

Call staff writer Chris Nichols at 760-740-5426.