Politics Behind the Toll Road

* Apparently letter writer Robert Lobue (Letters, May 14) was unaware of the efforts by the residents of San Clemente to prevent the exploitation of the diminishing open space in south Orange County.

The Talega development, Wal-Mart projects and other housing and commercial developments were opposed with the same vigor and intensity as is now in place to stop the proposed toll road.

In spite of these efforts, the projects were strong-armed through with the aid of the developers’ financial resources.

It is our objective to assure these methods will not again be used to force an unneeded road down our throats.

If Lobue had read the April 23 Orange County Voices column by Robert W. Poole Jr., he would have known the toll road is not only unnecessary, but Caltrans has contracted with the Transportation Corridor Agencies to not improve traffic flow to reduce congestion on competing freeways, such as the San Diego Freeway, to generate traffic for the road.

In other words, Caltrans must not do anything to relieve congestion or improve traffic flow, so vehicles will be diverted to the proposed toll road.

Our motivation in halting the toll road is not only the preservation of open space, saving a popular state park and maintaining beach access and bicycle trails, but relief from the traffic congestion that Caltrans has promised if the toll road moves forward. CALVIN HECHT

San Clemente