New OC Toll Roads Would Require Supermajority Voter Approval Under Proposed Law

Assemblywoman Young Kim today announced she has introduced a bill that would force state officials to seek permission from a supermajority of Orange County voters before they impose new toll lanes here.

The Fullerton Republican, who was elected in November, campaigned to stop Caltrans from imposing toll lanes on the San Diego (405) Freeway, a move that has drawn howls of protest from leaders in several cities near the freeway in the north part of the county.

Orange County Transportation Authority board members in September -- for the third time -- backed construction of two new lanes on the freeway that would be free to motorists. They stopped short, however, of opposing the state’s plan to add two toll lanes to the freeway.

“During my campaign, I came out against the plan to add toll lanes to (the freeway),” Kim told City News Service. “Now that I’m an elected Assemblywoman, I feel strongly that I need to stand up to protect taxpayers and commuters in Orange County.

“Measure M2 was passed in large part because there was no mention of toll lanes, and using those funds to build toll lanes is a bait-and-switch that is unfair to taxpayers,” she told CNS.

Under Kim’s legislation, any new toll lanes in Orange County would require the approval of two-thirds of voters.

“It should be the decision of the residents of Orange County, not of the state bureaucrats in Sacramento,” she said. “The Orange County Transportation Authority has twice voted to reject toll lanes on the 405 Freeway, yet Caltrans continues to try and march forward.”

Messages left with Caltrans officials for comment were not immediately returned.

Assemblyman Matt Harper, R-Costa Mesa, is a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The proposal supported by OCTA would build one free lane in each direction on the San Diego (405) Freeway from the San Joaquin Hills (73) Freeway to the San Gabriel (605) Freeway. Construction is expected to begin in 2016 and be finished by 2020, according to a board official.

The board voted 12 to 4 to spend $1.3 billion from voter-approved Measure M money to construct the two free lanes.

State officials have said free lanes would not relieve traffic congestion enough, and they want toll lanes for motorists who are carpooling or driving solo but willing to pay extra to cut through traffic.

That stretch of the 405 in Orange County carries more than 370,000 vehicles a day, and that is expected to jump by 35 percent by 2040.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS: Is it a good idea to leave it to the voters to decide?

• City News Service

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