241 Toll Road Expansion With Resistance In South Orange County

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — Thousands of protesters gathered in San Clemente to share a petition to stop the proposed 241 toll road through the city. In San Juan Capistrano, the Tuesday city council meeting was met with strong opposition for any support of the 241 Toll Road's extension into the city.

The San Juan Capistrano City Council approved the motion to send a letter informing the Transportation Corridor Agency that the city “respectfully” but strongly opposes four of 18 mobility options in a TCA mobility study, by a vote of 5-0.

The letter, mailed Friday, June 9, stated that the alignments “will have significant and irreversible environmental impacts and decimate existing quality of life for our residents" according to a report from the Orange County Register.

Brian Maryott, the San Juan Capistrano councilman that represents San Juan on the Transportation Corridor Agency's board of directors, stated that he thinks the route that would merge with I-5 in San Juan is not feasible, given the topography and the costs to try to tie it into the I-5 freeway.

“A lot of what is on this map I do not believe is even remotely feasible,” Maryott said.

In San Clemente, the Transportation Corridor Agency's mobility forum was met with great resistance, according to all present. Many, outside and unable to make it into Saddleback College auditorium, chanted "NO!" repeatedly.

"It's important that you understand this," an official said to the crowd waiting to sign growing petitions against the toll road. "We can be deaf to people's voices, and we need them to hear it in the way only San Clemente can say it."

With hundreds of residents unable to fit inside the 700 seat Saddleback Community College McKinley Theater, instead they crowded around tables and stood in line to sign a petition voicing their discontent in the toll road building through their city.

According to GetMovingOC.com (Get Moving Orange County,) the forum was to present how the process of building the 241 toll road is being affected by current lawsuits filed by environmental groups that would kill the plan to extend the 241 behind San Clemente, connecting with I-5 at San Onofre. It also would explain how the environmental review process would evaluate mobility options for the road.

How do you feel about the Toll Road expansion prospects? Let us know.