Foothill-South Toll Road Approved in Disappointing TCA Vote

On Feb. 23, Orange County's Transportation Corridor Agency voted 12-3 to certify their environmental report on the Foothill-South Toll Road. TCA officially selected an alignment that bisects both San Onofre State Beach (devastating Trestles Surf Beach and the San Mateo Campground) and the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy.

While disappointing, the vote was not at all surprising.

'We applaud those courageous board members who took a stand in support of looking for traffic solutions that meet everyone's transportation needs and don't involve sacrificing our cherished parklands,' said Sierra Club regional representative Elizabeth Lambe.

Councilman Larry Agran was the hero of the day, having initiated discussion among board members prior to the vote. Agran made excellent points about the need to improve existing infrastructure (like widening HWY 5) and promote forward-thinking transportation solutions.

Dana Point Mayor Lara Anderson and Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Bist also refused to support a toll road through San Onofre State Beach and the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy. They agreed on the need to look for transportation solutions that don't involve sacrificing protected parklands.

Governor Schwarzenegger weighs in

As TCA board members considered their decision, the Schwarzenegger administration issued a statement about the proposed route. In the joint statement by Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman and Secretary for Business, Transportation and Housing Wright McPeak, the governor's office criticized TCA for backing the route through state parkland. They promised to continue to work 'to explore all viable alternatives should there be an opportunity to reconsider the alignment.'

'Administration officials are very disappointed that [TCA] was unable to find an alternative alignment acceptable to the military,' McPeak and Chrisman said. San Onofre State Beach, which attracts 2 million visitors per year, rests on land leased from Camp Pendleton.

'We understand the desperate need to reduce traffic congestion in this area, but we are equally concerned about losing valuable state park land that is beloved by so many California residents,' McPeak and Chrisman said.

Bill Holmes, chair of the Sierra Club Friends of the Foothills Task Force, said Schwarzenegger's support buoyed the cause. 'The decision to pave over California's fifth most popular state park is unacceptable, especially in light of the governor's clear direction that other alternatives need to be explored.' Holmes said that the Sierra Club and their environmental allies have completed several studies demonstrating that TCA did not adequately investigate alternatives.

Next steps-litigation and education

TCA's decision kicks off the next phase of our campaign, including litigation, as we continue to educate decision-makers about the destructive Foothill-South Toll Road.

Within the next 30 days, the Sierra Club and our allies at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the State Parks Foundation, Audubon Society and other environmental groups will file suit to challenge the TCA's environmental study.

'It violates several environmental laws and the route alternatives were not adequately investigated,' said NRDC attorney James Birkelund.

TCA still must face several major hurdles, including the California Coastal Commission, before they can get the approvals and permits they need to build the road.

The Friends of the Foothills campaign will be there every step of the way continuing efforts to educate state decision-makers about the need to defend our state park system and pursue politically sound, viable alternatives to alleviate traffic problems in Southern California.

As government budgets shrink and the cost of private land increases, public lands, including our state parks, must not give up the right-of-way for toll roads and other infrastructure projects. The precedent-setting nature of this proposal will have statewide ramifications.

To join the Friends of the Foothills campaign, contact Brittany McKee, 949-361-7534.