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Navy responds to latest plan for toll road extension
The federal agency has voiced concerns over new route, but transportation officials remain positive.
By Kristen SchottPublished: February 28, 2010 10:39 AM
Courtesy of the Transportation Corridor AgenciesTransportation officials plan to continue work on a proposed route for the Foothill South toll road, despite the U.S. Navy's recent rejection of the new concept.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus last week sent a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein voicing concerns over the plan, saying it would "unacceptably impact" the Marine Corps' training activities.
The new route would run along the edge of Camp Pendleton's Sierra Training Area, near where combat training usually takes place.
"The proposed route would eliminate a substantial portion of the Sierra Training Area," states Mabus. "This not only impacts current pre-deployment combat training, but also restricts the Marine Corps' ability to adapt training type."
But Transportation Corridor Agencies officials remain positive and continue to seek options to relieve traffic congestion in South O.C. In fact, Chairman Peter Herzog says the letter is a good sign because the Navy is commenting on the process.
"It's the first occasion that we've gotten any indication (from the Navy)," says Herzog. "We're looking forward to having the engineers sit down and figure out what the issues are."
He says the concept was not set in stone, and the agency was expecting changes would be made to the project.
The newest route comes about two years after the California Coastal Commission rejected the first proposed extension, due to environmental concerns. That tollway would have cut through the San Onofre State Park.
But the TCA's newest proposal was expected to solve many of the wildlife impact issues. Transportation officials were proposing to changed the park's boundaries, adding an additional 14 acres to the region, according to Herzog.
He says the plan would be to essentially "swap" land in the northern and southern regions of the park. The northeastern boundary would be moved to the west to allow for the toll road, and extra space would be added in the southern section.
In a letter released Friday by the TCA, Herzog also notes that the agency has met with more than 125 organizations, including the Surfrider Foundation – one of the main opponents to the first route – as well as civic and transportation planning leaders to develop a new route.
"TCA has made it clear that giving up on finding a solution to the area's current and future traffic congestion is NOT an option," states the letter.
Moving forward, the TCA will continue to work with local and state agencies to develop a suitable route.
"(TCA) will get down into the details, see what we can resolve, and see if we can find another solution, jointly," finishes Herzog.
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Courtesy of the Transportation Corridor Agencies Navy Secretary Ray Mabus last week sent a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein voicing concerns over the plan, saying it would "unacceptably impact" the Marine Corps' training activities. The new route would run along the edge of Camp Pendleton's Sierra Training Area, near where combat training usually takes place. "The proposed route would eliminate a substantial portion of the Sierra Training Area," states Mabus. "This not only impacts current pre-deployment combat training, but also restricts the Marine Corps' ability to adapt training type." But Transportation Corridor Agencies officials remain positive and continue to seek options to relieve traffic congestion in South O.C. In fact, Chairman Peter Herzog says the letter is a good sign because the Navy is commenting on the process. "It's the first occasion that we've gotten any indication (from the Navy)," says Herzog. "We're looking forward to having the engineers sit down and figure out what the issues are." He says the concept was not set in stone, and the agency was expecting changes would be made to the project. The newest route comes about two years after the California Coastal Commission rejected the first proposed extension, due to environmental concerns. That tollway would have cut through the San Onofre State Park. But the TCA's newest proposal was expected to solve many of the wildlife impact issues. Transportation officials were proposing to changed the park's boundaries, adding an additional 14 acres to the region, according to Herzog. He says the plan would be to essentially "swap" land in the northern and southern regions of the park. The northeastern boundary would be moved to the west to allow for the toll road, and extra space would be added in the southern section. In a letter released Friday by the TCA, Herzog also notes that the agency has met with more than 125 organizations, including the Surfrider Foundation – one of the main opponents to the first route – as well as civic and transportation planning leaders to develop a new route. "TCA has made it clear that giving up on finding a solution to the area's current and future traffic congestion is NOT an option," states the letter. Moving forward, the TCA will continue to work with local and state agencies to develop a suitable route. "(TCA) will get down into the details, see what we can resolve, and see if we can find another solution, jointly," finishes Herzog. Related headlines Tesla Motors may open dealership in Newport Beach Irvine's BlueFire seeks $250 million in federal funding New bill could generate 6,000 local transportation jobs Hyundai voluntarily recalls 2011 Sonata |
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