Toll road agency to spend $5 million on evaluation of potential south county projects; residents say they don’t want a 241 extension
Officials with Orange County’s toll road agencies committed $5 million on Thursday, Nov. 8, to further evaluate and pare down options for an extension to the 241 toll road or other projects to improve traffic in south county.
The Transportation Corridor Agencies – which oversees the county’s toll roads – will learn which options are truly feasible, officials said, and get more public input, including from south county cities and the Orange County Transportation Authority.
The agency first proposed spending more than $16 million on environmental reviews for the eight options, from widening I-5 to connecting the 241 and I-5 at Avenida Pico in San Clemente, but Supervisor Lisa Bartlett lobbied for the more measured approach.
“I don’t think it’s prudent to drag all alternatives through,” said Bartlett, who represents south county cities that would be affected by the expansion. “It’s important to scale down, with stakeholders, on things that are not truly feasible.”
That wasn’t enough to calm dozens of San Clemente residents who attended Thursday’s meeting to oppose any progress on the idea of a 241 extension south to the 5 freeway. Some residents shouted “recall” at Bartlett, whom they see as not responsive to the residents’ concern.
The residents said they fear some options could divide the city or put a road too close to San Clemente High School.
With an extension, “San Clemente will not be San Clemente,” longtime resident Tom Barnes said.
City Councilwoman Kathy Ward, representing San Clemente on the board, said she was glad to see Bartlett’s proposal pass, but she doesn’t think any money should be spent on advancing the project.
“We are being asked to approve this project,” she said. “We are not sure if there’s a project.”
Councilman Brian Maryott, representing San Juan Capistrano in the board, pointed out a recent Orange County Transportation Authority letter to the toll roads over “outstanding issues” it said it has been raising for more than a year and conflict with the OCTA’s own plans for the region.
“We are just failing to rip off the Band Aid,” Maryott said of continuing to plan further projects. “We are the brass section trying to be an orchestra leader.”
TCA spokesman Nico Melendez said the agency is committed to responding to wishes of the public and working with other agencies, including the Orange County Transportation Authority, and the group’s CEO said any projects to widen the 5 freeway would be in agreement with the region’s other transportation agencies.
Bartlett said something has to be done to address the traffic in south county as the county continues to grow in population, putting more traffic on the 5 freeway. The $5 million commitment, she said, will allow the TCA to make a more informed decision.