Trestles, San Onofre State Beach saved: Toll road project rejected

The waves are small and the water's frigid, but it's a glorious day for surfers and environmentalists, and for state parks, and for all who opposed the effort to erect the Foothill South toll road through part of San Onofre State Beach near San Clemente.

The U.S. Commerce Department today decided against the Transportation Corridor Authority's proposed toll road extension, which would have spoiled the aesthetics of one of California's most popular state parks, jeopardized a pristine watershed and the waves at Lower Trestles, which is one of the world's premier surf venues.

"The [Commerce] secretary’s decision confirms just how bad this project really is: Even the Bush administration, under pressure from all the lobbyists money can buy, has refused to endorse the toll road through San Onofre," Joel Reynolds, an attorney representing the National Resources Defense Council, said in a statement.

"In my 30 years experience, I have never seen a project more deserving of rejection. The transportation agency lobbied 20 years for this toll road, spent billions of dollars on lobbyists, and were trying to shove the $1.1 billion for this road onto the shoulders of taxpayers already burdened by the economy.

"You simply couldn't design a transportation project that does more harm to taxpayers and the environment and less good for congestion relief."

Several groups opposed the project and will be issuing statements such as this throughout the day. Congratulations to all who fought against it. The project, which had already been rejected by the California Coastal Commission, never should have gotten so far along.

--Pete Thomas

Photos: A protester (top) expresses opposition to a proposed toll road extension through San Onofre State Beach, which contains one of Southern California's few remaining pristine watersheds (bottom). Credits: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times (top) and Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[james]

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh guy!!! That road was a stupid idea to start with!!!

[Max Sloves]

There is not room enough to expound on how legally and ethically flawed this project has been from its very inception. With Obama winning the election and this travesty of public planning being fully quashed, I'd say it's been a good fall. Now if Farmar and Fisher start playing some D on the perimiter it will be a glorious new year. Bravo!

[PInkbike]

Fantastic news. Just great. My Dad, were he still alive, would weep with relief - he surfed Trestles for many, many years. It's a magic place.

Thanks to all who worked so hard to save it!!!

[onewhonoes]

the next time you are stuck in traffic on the I-5 going through south Orange Co, remember this decision.
the next rain that washes all the oils and contaminates from the I-5 at Trestles, remember this decision.
those living daily with the impacts and consequences in the south Orange Co cities of Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente will certainly live with the impacts of this decision.

[PInkbike]

Dear OneWhoKnows:

Take a bus. Or better yet, ride your bike.

Meantime, we're all going to keep up our good fight to protect what needs protecting.

[Jon K.]

Thank God.

[Marcotico]

Dear onewhoknows, This decision also belongs to all the So. Orange County cities that developed and built up all the land that could have served as access points from the 241 to the 5. Look at Google earth and you will see that many of those developments are less than 10-20 years old. Also even the OCTA had to finally abandon the canard that the 241 would help with congestion. In order for that to be the case you would have to take the 241 which runs about 5 miles away from the 5 up to East Irvine, Orange, or all the way to the 91 to cut back Westward to rejoin the 5 to go to LA or continue on to Riverside.

The politics are clear on this one, the toll road was planned to accomodate new growth in the foothills. NOT existing traffic problems on the 5.

[Robin Russo]

I am absolutely ecstatic with this news!! Having surfed there all my life, I can't say that I have ever received a Christmas present as wonderful as this!

[Enlightenment]

Hey all you two-face morons...your flipping houses have far more impact on the area than a toll road. I think we should doze all houses in southern orange county!!! Doze houses, doze houses, doze houses in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano! I don't see a problem with doing this, so lets do it now and recover nature!!!!

[Enlightenment]

At a minimum, the 241 should be connected to the 74 (Ortega Highway), along with a big interchange at 74.

[Mr Salty]

Best Christmas gift I could get.
Thanks to all who helped.
Disband the TCA and make 'em freeways!

[Dude]

build it to Pico, then in 15 years build it to the the 5.

The road will be built