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Economy

Tesoro Toll Road Seeks Permit In San Diego

Proposed Toll Road rejected in 2008 by California Coastal Commission
Proposed Toll Road rejected in 2008 by California Coastal Commission

This story was updated at 10:00 a.m.

Tesoro Toll Road Seeks Permit In San Diego
Part of a toll road from Orange County that was rejected by the California Coastal Commission four years ago is before the Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Diego on Wednesday. Opponents of the Tesoro Extension say the project threatens the San Onofre State Park, a famous surfing spot.

Part of a toll road from Orange County that was rejected by the California Coastal Commission four years ago is before the Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Diego on Wednesday. Opponents the Tesoro Extension said the project threatens the San Onofre State Park, a famous surfing spot.

An Orange County-based toll road agency, the Transportation Corridor Agency, plans to build a section of toll road designed to take pressure off freeways north of San Diego.

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But Damon Nagami of the Natural Resources Defense Council said this five-mile section would lead directly to a 16-mile section already rejected by the California Coastal Commission.

“This is a toll road to nowhere,” Nagami said. “Right now, the section the agency is trying to build ends in a dirt road, and, if continued, the road would continue through a wetland and eventually through San Onofre State Beach, one of the most popular state parks."

The Transportation Corridor Agency resurrected the first leg of the controversial toll road three months ago.

Supporters say the road would create 2,000 jobs in Orange County and relieve heavy traffic congestion in the area.

Water Quality Control Board staff recommend approval of the permit, following agreements to provide a 'Runoff Management Plan" to address concerns about pollution reaching nearby creeks.

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The Transportation Corridor Agency said there are no other extensions to the road in the planning stage at this time.

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