Senator Wyland's Letter of Support for 241 Toll Road

February 4, 2008

Patrick Kruer, Chair
California Coastal Commission
45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105

Re: Written Testimony for February 6, 2008 Hearing on State Route 241

Dear Chairman Kruer and Commissioners:

I urge the California Coastal Commission to support and approve the federal consistency certification for the completion of State Route (SR) 241 known as the Foothill-South Toll Road.

The completion of this public highway will provide improved coastal access for the residents of our state’s inland communities, as well as serve the critical needs of traffic relief and public safety for the growing population in Orange and San Diego Counties.

As a state representative of over 800,000 people, I ask that you pay particular attention to the issue of public safety. For this reason alone – the 241 toll road must be built.

As recent history has shown, one of the biggest threats to our local communities in southern California is posed by wildfires. I would like you to consider the necessity of this road for the protection of our residential communities which house our ever-growing population in southern Orange County and northern San Diego County.

Only a few months ago, it seemed that all of southern California was ablaze. The public was glued to their TVs and radios trying desperately to get up-to-date information and/or awaiting evacuation orders. Ultimately, San Diego was ravaged by an enormous firestorm causing the evacuation of half a million people and the loss of almost 2,000 structures, and unfortunately some lives.

During this same time, Orange County was battling the consequences of numerous fires including those in Santiago and Modjeska canyons. Thankfully, the existing OC toll roads proved to be a critical asset to OC firefighters in their battle to protect their communities from further harm during this disaster.

As we in San Diego and Orange counties continue to clean-up from these tragedies and prepare ourselves for future fires, we are identifying what strategies worked best and what needs improvement. One thing we know unequivocally is that adequate infrastructure -- like that provided by the toll road system in OC -- is essential to public safety.

We know from our firefighter professionals that the completion of SR 241 will provide our southern OC and northern SD communities with:

• An alternative evacuation route to I-5 for the population in this part of the state;
• A fire break at the County line to keep major fires from spreading;
• A staging area for the deployment of large numbers of resources to fight fires; and
• Enhanced response times for routine calls and daily emergencies.

The residents in our communities cannot afford to keep waiting for this road. We need to build this now to protect our residential communities of eastern and southern Orange County and northern San Diego County.

We’re not going to get many more warnings. It is not a question of "if" another significant fire will threaten the populations of southern Orange County or northern San Diego County – it is only a matter of "when."

As the Senator who represents Trestles Beach, I have personally been to the area in which SR 241 would be built, and I am confident that the road will be built to the highest environmental standards, and will not damage the existing surf pattern at Trestles, or the park that so many of my constituents enjoy.

The people of my district need this road. Please vote to approve federal consistency certification.

Sincerely,

Mark Wyland
Senator, 38th District