Letter to Transportation Corridor Agency CEO Michael Kraman - Abandon Toll Road Extension Plans
Letter
Dear Mr. Kraman,
As the federal representative for South Orange County, I write to express my strong opposition to the current proposals to extend the State Route 241 toll road as put forward on recent maps provided by TCA.
For more than 20 years, developers have considered various proposals to complete Route 241 in order to alleviate traffic congestion in the South Orange County region. Despite many years and long protracted battles, no solutions so far have earned the support of the communities directly impacted by the proposed construction.
While recent proposals may be well-intentioned to help ease traffic congestion on a notoriously packed section of I-5, the routes proposed today would effectively divide several of our cherished local communities while threatening to create additional traffic congestion on key thoroughfares. If allowed to move forward, the proposed routes risk destroying the very character of the communities that have drawn so many of us to call this area our home.
After hearing numerous concerns from city officials and residents who would be impacted if a toll road extension was routed through their community, I cannot support any of these proposals and respectfully request that TCA return to the drawing board and find more desirable solutions to reduce traffic congestion in South Orange County.
While any proposed route will likely be met with a certain amount of resistance -- as these proposals have been for years -- it is imperative that if an additional highway is to be constructed in this highly populous region, that it have as minimal an impact as possible on surrounding residents. The current proposals do not accomplish this objective and should therefore be rejected outright.
I look forward to working with stakeholders in the area to find alternative solutions to reduce traffic congestion in the South Orange County area. Please feel free to contact my office at (202) 225-3906 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Source