Between A Rock And A Hard Place - South County Toll Road Extension
- Aug 30, 2017
- 2 min read
Anyone living in or frequently travelling through San Clemente or Dana Point know all too well the challenging traffic conditions ever present on the 5 freeway. A seemingly endless stream of burning red tail lights and construction projects dot the streetscape. As San Clemente residents we (often reluctantly) recognize the need to improve traffic flows in, around, and through our Spanish Village by the Sea. We also maintain a fierce desire to protect the quintessential small beach town charm that is San Clemente.
Photo by Fred Swegles, Orange County Register/SCNG
A sign along Oso Parkway directs motorists to turn northbound onto the 241 Toll Road. Southbound, the toll road ends at Oso Parkway. but grading is under way for a future road heading south.
In a recent article, dated August 3, 2017 by Mayor Pro Tem Tim Brown - "In the fall of 2016, the TCA officially abandoned plans to build the 241 toll road southern route that bypassed San Clemente and tied into Interstate 5 south of town. The decision to abandon this route came through the form of a settlement agreement with Save San Onofre Coalition (SSOC), a group comprised of environmental advocates and several regulatory agencies."
While for many this settlement was a victory, ensuring no "environmental impact on the San Mateo Creek and other coastal resources", it also (due to the terms of the settlement) left little for the SSOC to oppose should a Toll Road be built outside of this "Avoidance Area" in the future. Click here for the full article.
With one option off the table, three alternates have emerged - each drawing a direct path through San Clemente's open space, protected ridgelines, and within close proximty to community parks, schools, trails, and homes - not exactly favorable alternatives if you're looking to tread lightly through our town.
So what's the right path forward? At a July 18, City Council meeting, a unanimous decision was made to authorize San Clemente's City Attorney to file a lawsuit against the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) and commence a legal battle to stop plans to build a toll road through San Clemente.
There are no clear winners here. No, we don't want unsightly paid access roads cutting through the heart of our town and disrupting the lifestyle and aesthetic we cherish so dearly. We also must understand and embrace the need to improve upon dated infrastructure ill-equipped to handle the traffic needs of today and into the future.
For a deep-dive into this ongoing and contentious issue, visit the City of San Clemente's website by Clicking here.
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