Completion of the Orange County Toll-Road -- a Statewide Benefit that Needs to Move Forward Now

By Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin)

With the State in a Fiscal Emergency, California Can Lead by Taking Advantage of this Public-Private Partnership California faces a golden opportunity.  With worn down roads, congested traffic and a $14 billion budget deficit, we need alternatives to fund critical infrastructure projects.  Our golden opportunity?  We can take advantage of a public private partnership by supporting the completion of State Route 241 and Orange County's system of Toll Roads.   The Transportation Corridors Agencies are offering California two smart solutions to our statewide challenges of relieving traffic congestion and building costly infrastructure. They would build State Route 241 at no cost to California taxpayers, and give $100 million to improve California State Parks.  This equals one-fourth of the State Parks Department annual operating budget, and given the State Parks Department's $1.2 billion maintenance backlog -- this offer is much needed.   Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked for increased public private partnerships to fund important infrastructure projects. By supporting the completion of State Route 241, California can set a national example of finding solutions to funding problems to other states.   California critically needs State Route 241 as an alternative to Interstate-5 to secure our place as the world's 7th largest economy, and it is the best alternative to the traffic problem in Southern California.

By 2020, traffic on the I-5 is expected to increase by 60 percent through this area of Orange County. Without a completed 241, traffic on the I-5 will rival the congestion along the Riverside (91) Freeway between Orange and Riverside counties.

Governor on course for 241 Toll Road
By Jeff Miller

Every day the reality of severe traffic interrupts, delays and halts our commutes, our families and our future across Southern California.

Since few of us stay within the same county for work and play, it is obvious this problem requires a regional solution.

And that is why Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's backing of the extension of the 241 Toll Road in Orange County is so important to our families here in the Inland Empire. With the completion of the 241, families and businesses in western Riverside County and eastern Orange County will have a convenient and viable alternate to the 15 Freeway for going to San Diego.

Taking up to 150,000 commuters off the 15 South is always a good idea.