In an era of exploding population, worsening traffic congestion and shrinking government transportation funds, the 241 south toll way expansion has stalled out at Oso Parkway. This reminds me of the 1985 song by the Talking Heads that goes like this;

We're on a road to nowhere,
Come on along.

To Where? That great destination spot, Oso Parkway! Most of the 3,000,000 Orange County residents would have a hard time determining where Oso Parkway is, let alone our 16,000,000 brethren from the surrounding counties. Yet the majority of Southern Californians know where the 5 freeway is at Camp Pendleton or where the 91 Riverside freeway runs. The recent slow down for the 241 is a result of the Coastal Commission denying certification for the completion of the last 16 miles, which would connect the 5 freeway from the San Diego County line to the 91, east of Anaheim Hills.

There is a tremendous amount of lobbying and the proliferation of misinformation about the completion of this project that is roping in even moderates and conservatives that would normally be in favor of transportation solutions, because they happen to enjoy surfing. Environmentalists, anti-growth advocates, and surfers are adamant that having a transportation system parallel to the 5, funded privately, stretching the length of county is somehow bad. They fail to grasp that the alternatives are much worse.

Our current California freeway system was built for a population of 18 million people. Today these critical arteries are clogged with vehicles representing 37 million. Every mile of gridlock poisons our air with tons of carbon and pollution. The many cars and growing traffic is not the result of the toll road creation. It is a consequence of our continued population growth. And it's not going to get any better.

Without the 241 extension, gridlock on the I-5 will become much worse. San Diego and Orange Counties are the 2nd and 3rd most populous counties in the state. I-5 traffic is projected to increase 60% (80,000 more vehicles per day) by 2025. If the Foothill South is not built, the commute on the I-5 will experience a 500% increase in congestion, and produce an additional 600,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per day.

The Foothill Corridor connection is not a new idea. In 1978 a study was commenced that identified the need to connect the I-5 in the south with the Riverside 91 freeway. By August 1981 the Foothill 241 transportation corridor was added to the county's Master Plan of Arterial Highways. It was also clear that the state wasn't going to fund the building of the needed roads.

In 1986 Orange County decided to form the Transportation Corridor Agency. By 1999 the TCA had come up with solutions to build what we have today, a 51 mile toll way system using bond funds, toll income, and negligible government funding. Today more than 200,000 vehicles a day travel these roads saving an estimated 20 minutes per trip and reducing congestion on the local freeways by up to two hours. Time is the new currency. Once the bonds are all paid off these roads are scheduled to become open freeways. That could take 30 years, but eventually everyone should have free access.

But what about the environment? The US Fish & Wildlife Service recently confirmed that the final 16 mile leg of the toll system complies with the Endangered Species Act. It further stated that it won't "jeopardize the continued existence of the coastal California gnatcatcher, the Pacific pocket mouse", and other species that were deemed threatened.

How about 'Saving Trestles?' The fact is, the surf break at trestles isn't threatened and will be unaffected by the toll way as it comes no closer to the beach than the I-5 is today. Two six-year, scientific studies determined "that the Foothill South will have no negative impact on water quality or the surf break."  Trestles surf break is the result of large cobbles and boulders, not sand and sediment. Any additional amounts of sediment from the new toll way will be negligible. In addition, the storm water runoff from the I-5 currently runs untreated straight into San Mateo Creek, then Trestles. The TCA plans to install extended detention basins on the new toll way and two miles of the I-5; thus improving water quality there.

Orange County's population and its position in between other densely populated counties, demonstrates the need for multiple parallel routes of highway transportation. What if a major earthquake knocked out the 5 freeway for an extended period of time? Shouldn't major thoroughfares be connected?

"Opponent groups against the 241 completion are using this as a fundraiser for their own organizations. There is not necessarily a true problem, but it sounds great," says Lisa Telles, spokesperson for the TCA. "The goal is to build with no tax increases, through private funding, and minimal federal monies, for the betterment of Orange County."

The appeal to the US Department of Commerce could take a year. They will consider if the completion furthers the national interest, including goods movement and air quality. The delays and appeals are adding to the future costs of the project, but the TCA hopes to have the project completed by 2011.

The Talking Heads concluded:
Here is where time is on our side
We'll take you there...take you there

For the sake of those who appreciate the environment and are opposed to gridlock, taking you there means all the way from the 5 in the south to the 91 in the north. Otherwise we will end up with what we have today; the toll road to Oso Parkway (nowhere)!