This time of year we often reflect upon the things and people we are most thankful for.  Given that traffic is the number one issue among voters in just about every Southern California community, most voters are thankful for just about any proposal to build new freeway lanes.

And don’t be surprised if the voters, even the most conservative of the bunch vote for a massive
bond measure or sales tax hike if they are promised more lanes.

Orange County Supervisor and OCTA Chairman Bill Campbell is pushing a good idea that would not cost nearly as much as widening a freeway.  He along with his colleagues are urging Caltrans to allow carpool lanes in Southern CA to be used by all vehicles regardless of the number of passengers on off-peak hours.  Additionally, the proposal is to allow ingress and egress at any point (those of you who have taken the carpool lane north on the 405 and want to get off at Century Boulevard to go to LAX know exactly what I am talking about).

There are other proposals to be thankful for such as the tunnel through the Cleveland National Forest that would connect the Inland Empire with Orange County.

As you watch the evening news tonight or read the Drudge headline and imagine the nightmare scenario that is NYC during their public transit strike, remember to be thankful that we still have options in Southern California.  We are an independent bunch who has resisted the urge and prodding of collectivists and environmentalist who suggest mass transit is our future.  Be thankful even if your commute from Moreno Valley to Irvine each day totals 4 hours round trip, that someday it might take you only 35 minutes. 

And to that end, write, call, show up and contribute political campaign dollars to help move us forward on the agenda of building more freeway lanes, additional alternate routes and expanded use of carpool lanes.

[Publisher’s note:  Obviously Probolsky is a member of his city’s planning commission.  Real people don’t use words like ‘ingress and ‘egress’  – Flash]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 21st, 2005 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.