Easing the Riverside-Orange County Crunch

Re “There’s No Such Thing as a Free Way in L.A.,” Steve Lopez column, July 21:

The idea that driving should cost more raises many questions about the future of transportation in Southern California. It’s true that toll roads serve a purpose, but contrary to opinions stated by Lopez, transportation officials should do everything in their power to keep money in the public’s pockets while balancing that with the challenges of maintaining mobility throughout the region.

Greater taxation, even in the form of more user fees, may not be the answer.

To correct Lopez’s statement regarding the 91 Express Lanes tollway noncompete agreement: It was Caltrans and the state of California--not the Orange County Transportation Authority--that signed the agreement prohibiting any expansion or capacity improvements to the public freeway until 2030. The agreement was needed to help provide assurances to the Wall Street investors who wanted to make sure their investment in the toll road would not be negatively impacted.

When the toll road was built in the mid-1990s, it served the need to relieve congestion at a time when the state had no funds to improve local freeways. It was the best alternative at the time.

Since then, much has changed. Housing costs have risen dramatically, forcing more people who work in Orange County to seek affordable housing in Riverside County, putting an even greater strain on the Riverside Freeway corridor.

The noncompete agreement was necessary to secure financing in the past.

However, it is now preventing a much-needed increase in capacity on the Riverside Freeway corridor. OCTA’s purchase of the tollway will be the first step in resolving that issue.

By buying the Express Lanes and eliminating the noncompete clause, OCTA will be able to make immediate improvements to the freeway.

We will be able to increase traffic flow by improving interchanges, solving choke-point problems, re-striping lanes and expanding the freeway, thus meeting the goal of enhancing mobility for motorists.

Gregory T. Winterbottom

Chairman,

Transportation, Planning and

Operations Committee, Orange

County Transportation Authority