Most public testimony on the proposed completion of the Foothill (241) Toll Road in the counties of San Diego and Orange focuses on the environment.
The Orange County Taxpayers Association cares about our environment too.
That’s one reason we support toll roads. Free-flowing traffic causes less pollution than stop-and-go traffic. Just as important, toll roads generate economic wealth that enables us to maintain our parks, beaches, housing, water and sanitary systems, flood control, landfills, recycling facilities, fire protection and other services that enhance the environment.
The worst ecological disasters occur in economically distressed areas. Good roads, by their effect on our economy, are essential to our environment.
Here are additional reasons OCTax supports the completion of the 241 toll road.
– User fees (tolls) are better than taxes. We are forced to pay taxes, whether we use a service or not. We pay tolls voluntarily, in fair exchange for using the roads.
– Measurable results are better than unknown results. Drivers’ willingness to pay tolls is an absolute measure of customer satisfaction and investors’ judgment.
– Practical solutions are better than waiting for miracles. The toll roads were planned as freeways, but there was no taxpayer money to build them. The Transportation Corridor Agencies stepped in and built 67 miles of first-class roads with investors’ money. When the bonds are repaid, the toll roads will become freeways at little cost to taxpayers.
– Voluntary investment is better than taxes to build infrastructure. The toll roads are 85% funded by non-recourse revenue bonds, not taxpayer-guaranteed general obligation bonds. Development-impact fees (11%) and grants (4%) pay the rest.
Reed Royalty
President
OCTax
San Juan Capistrano
