Thinking Big
Commentary by Rick Reiff
BACK IN FEBRUARY I RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS (BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, little more) with a suggestion that the financially struggling 73 toll road be converted into an autobahn on the weekends, with motorists paying for the privilege of running their vehicles as fast as they want.
Now Jon Lansner of the OC Register has weighed in with his own proposal for making the toll road cost-effective by closing it to motorists during non-rush hours and using the roadway as a landing strip for a second Orange County airport.
The authorities are thinking less flamboyantly, but some of them are beginning to think outside the box, too. The board of the 73 has suggested merging its finances with those of the healthier 241/261/133 toll roads, and county Treasurer John Moorlach has signaled a willingness to make an investment in the 73 if its current debt can be suitably restructured.
The trend looks promising. And if the county decides it wants to use Jon’s or my idea, I doubt we’ll ask for anything more than having a toll booth or an airport terminal named after us.
, Rick Reiff
