Allan Mansoor, State Assemblyman, Tees Off on Caltrans' Slimy 405 Freeway Toll Lanes Plot

I find myself in disagreement with Tea Party members and state Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) when it comes to many things. But the idea of Caltrans ignoring the wishes of nine Orange County cities along the 405 freeway corridor that are against the installation of toll lanes–funded with Measure M money voted in by Orange Countians for a list of transportation projects that included expansion of that very FREEway–makes me want to dress up like Paul Revere, lock arms with the politico I've dubbed Mansore and sue the beejesus outta the state for this rampant example of taxation without representation.

]

Fortunately, Mansoor has a cooler head in this situation than yours truly and instead of resorting to stunt suing, he submitted the following “opinion editorial:”

Here We Go Again

By Assemblyman Allan Mansoor

After successfully convincing the Orange County Transportation Authority to shelve the 405 toll lanes proposal, Caltrans is coming in and hopes to use Orange County sales tax revenue to tax us even more.

Orange County voters have twice voted for Measure M, the half-cent sales tax, to pay for transportation needs in Orange County. The Measure M promise was clear: a new lane in each direction on the 405 from Costa Mesa to Seal Beach. Caltrans, like OCTA before it, wants to use Measure M funds to further increase revenue through the addition of toll lanes on the 405.

While support for toll lanes is seen primarily among special interests and government bureaucrats, many elected leaders have remained silent. They seem unwilling to draw the ire of special interests that want toll lanes so badly for their own benefit. I'm open to a variety of ways to finance new construction, but converting existing lanes that we've already paid for into toll lanes is wrong.

There are other problems as well. While toll lanes will improve commute times for those who are willing to pay as much as $15 per day for the privilege, no one else would receive the benefit of Measure M taxes because the toll lane proposal will result in the same number of free lanes as there are now.

Even worse is the fact that local residents will be unable to use the toll lanes (if they want to) because there will be limited entry and exit points along the Costa Mesa to Seal Beach route. In addition, local businesses that rely on out-of-town consumers will suffer when commuters choose the toll lanes and are unable to exit the freeway along the toll lane corridor.

I will continue to advocate for taxpayers and standup to ensure that the Measure M promise is kept. Taxpayers were promised a free lane on the 405, and they should get it. Even if we can't stop Caltrans from building toll lanes, we can make sure they don't use Orange County tax revenue to do it.

Leadership on this issue requires more than sending one letter. My focus, now and in the future, will be on protecting Orange County taxpayers from the 405 toll lanes money grab. To help in this effort, like our Facebook page, Stop the I-405 Toll Lanes, and visit www.keepthe405free.com for more information.

Amen, brother.

And don't fire until you see the whites in their Lexus IS.

Email: mc****@oc******.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *