73 + 241 + 261 + 133 = ?

  In Orange County's toll road network, the 73 Toll Road has long been considered the biggest disappointment. And the lack of drivers -- and toll revenues -- has caused financial problems for the operators. Now, the OCR reports a new effort to merge the 73 (which runs from Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano) with the more successful 241/261/133 (which gets the huge Inland Empire-to-OC traffic) toll road system:

A multi-billion dollar plan that would merge two south county toll roads – which could potentially shorten the time motorists pay tolls – is being pursued by the operators of the 73 and 241 turnpikes. But unlike a similar plan that was defeated three years ago amid political controversy, board members who run the San Joaquin Hills (73) and the Foothill/Eastern (241/261/133) toll roads aren't in any hurry to seal the deal. ... In 2004, a plan to merge the two roads was seen as the only way to keep the financially-ailing 73 out of default. But a subsequent loan and financial agreement in November 2005 helped stabilize its finances. Since consolidation was last considered the 73 is healthier.

Comments

[BDiego]

I used the 73 toll road a few weeks ago, paid the $2 toll, and got a "notice of toll evasion" today. This is bogus, they have me on video camera putting in $2 (it's clear the money went in), the machine confirmed it, and I have a witness.

I thought these people were pretty professional, but apparently when it comes to other peoples money they won't bother to check a simple video. The fine is $47.50 plus $2 they want me to pay a second time. $97 if not paid in 1 week. That's not a lot of money to me, but they have no right to ask for it.

The only thing I can think of that would explain this is if the machine considered us a second car, with the "previous car" also being us. It did take some time to find clean bills for the machine to use. Again, video surveillance would make this obvious.

In any case, they have right in front of them the proof that I paid. This is theft through incompetence, plain and simple. Any time you give a private business the ability to demand money from people at will, you have a conflict of interest. I want to go to court in front of a judge, I don’t want this same business to handle my claim.

[Carlo]

I agree cafeandres, these Toll Road companies need to suffer for their own hubris. I remembered when the 91 Express Ways first popped up then read about how CalTrans couldn't make improvements to the parallel lanes. Who is in bed with who? If they want those 73 lanes to succeed, then lower tolls would help.

[cafeandres]

The Toll Roads were sold to the public by people who say that private business can build and run our roads better than the State of California. So far their adventure has been a disaster. The Toll Roads threatened to sue the state for planning to widen the 91 to ease traffic in the Orange Crush because there is a clause in the original convenient that won't let the state "compete" with them. In 2002, the state paid the Toll Roads $4 million for the right to build some extra lanes.
These people, who preach that the government is bloated and inefficient, should not be asking the government to bail them out.