EDITORIAL:

What do we want?

An extension of the 55 Freeway underground through downtown Costa Mesa into Newport Beach.

When do we want it?

Now!

How long before we see a crowd of picketers outside some Orange County Transportation Authority board meeting chanting that?

And we’re willing to bet the protesters will include our area politicians marching shoulder-to-shoulder with ticked-off drivers.

Exhibit A was on display Tuesday when OCTA officials presented the latest options to alleviate the 55’s beach-bound traffic jams.

“I think most people in this room could make this decision today,” Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley said. “I’d like to see this move forward with less bureaucracy.”

So what’s the holdup? Well, bureaucracy. The transportation wonks say there are more procedural steps they must take. All the agency wants right now from Costa Mesa is its blessing to move on to the next phase of study.

Consider it done.

Next up is building some sort of consensus with Newport Beach. Both cities need to want the tunnel under the 55 to make it happen.

Then comes the hard part — finding about $300 million and the vast reservoirs of patience to weather 10 years of construction.

Good luck with that. The longer state lawmakers wrestle over how to fill California’s multibillion-dollar deficit, the more it costs taxpayers. If they can’t even get that right do you expect them to find the cash for a tunnel? With less money to go around, it’s unlikely the Democrats in Sacramento are going to shovel dough into Republican districts.

And did we mention our local congressman, Rep. John Campbell, doesn’t much like earmarks? Going the normal route for funding will just add to your wait.

So what do we have here?

Another traffic jam. Oh well, at least this one’s figurative.

It would be funny if the reality of the situation didn’t get in the way.

If you want action, you’re going to have to demand it. Best to get those letters, e-mails, online petitions and phone calls to state and federal officials going now. Better sooner than later. This is going to take a while.