Tom Fudge: Next week, the California Coastal Commission will discuss a proposal to build a 16-mile toll road from inland Orange County to I-5, near San Onofre State Park . The toll road has become extremely controversial.
Last week, the San Diego City Council voted to oppose the project. Last week, the highway also got a much bigger hit. That's when the staff of the Coastal Commission blasted the proposed road as an affront to the environment.
The road would pass through the sensitive and lovely watershed of the San Mateo Creek . It would run right next to a very popular campground and it would pass through the Donna O'Neill nature preserve. Surfers believe runoff from the road could harm the famous surfing breaks at Trestles Beach .
But supporters of the road say it would ease traffic congestion considerably on the I-5 in south Orange County. The group that wants to build the road has offered to pay $100 million to the state parks system if their project is approved.
The California Coastal Commission will vote on the final segment of the proposed toll road on Thurs., Oct. 11 at Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel , 601 S. Palos Verdes St., in San Pedro.
Guests
- Paul Bopp, engineer and manager of the Foothill-South corridor for Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA).
- Matt McClain, director of marketing and communications for the Surfrider Foundation in San Clemente.
