| Q. |
What is TCA doing now? |
| A. |
Following the decisions of the Coastal Commission and the Secretary of Commerce, the Foothill/Eastern board of directors was briefed on the agency's legal options, but has not made a decision on whether or not it will litigate. The board has directed the agency's staff to reach out to South Orange County stakeholders – both supporters and opponents – to see if a common ground can be found on how to address South Orange County's traffic issues. Those meetings will take place through April. We know one thing for sure, traffic congestion in South Orange County is still an issue. |
| Q. |
If TCA can't pursue the preferred alignment that goes around San Clemente and connects to I-5 at Basilone Road on Camp Pendleton, will TCA consider building the CC-ALPV (La Pata) alignment that the Secretary of Commerce suggested? |
| A. |
Deciding to build the CC-ALPV alignment is a policy decision that the Foothill/Eastern board of directors is responsible for making. This alignment was eliminated early on and it provides limited traffic relief and some serious impacts to wetlands and native habitat. |
| Q. |
If TCA decides to look at alternate routes, will they revisit alignments studied in the past or will new alternatives be studied? |
| A. |
TCA considers all traffic-relieving options to be up for consideration. Nearly 40 alternate routes were studied through and extensive six-year process with the federal resource agencies. All of those alternatives are on the table as well as other ideas. The TCA board of directors has not dismissed any alignment or alternative. |
| Q. |
If an alignment calls for it, is TCA prepared to use eminent domain to take homes and businesses? |
| A. |
TCA's board of directors has the power of eminent domain to acquire property at fair market value. |
| Q. |
If the I-5 is widened with FasTrak lanes in the median, would TCA operate them? Did TCA study this alternative? |
| A. |
Currently, TCA does not possess the legislative authority to operate a tolled facility within the I-5 right-of-way and, as a result, has not studied the option. The idea of building High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes was analyzed by OCTA in the South County Major Investment Study. Visit http://www.octa.net/socmis.apx for information on the SOCMIS. |
| Q. |
Is it possible that Camp Pendleton may consider allowing TCA to study an alignment that connects to the I-5 farther south on the base, avoiding the state park leasehold? |
| A. |
The Green Alignment was acceptable to the Marine Corps because it met their stated requirements, the most important of which was that it did not impact the Marine Corps mission or interfere with the base's operational flexibility. Any changes to the alignment that would impact the base would have to be acceptable to the Marine Corps. |
| Q. |
What happens if nothing is built? |
| A. |
If nothing is done, increasing congestion on I-5 and arterial roads in South Orange County will result in reduced miles per gallon and increased greenhouse gas emissions. A trip from the San Diego/Orange County line to Oso Parkway, which takes 15 minutes today, will take more than an hour in 2025. |
