Politicians oppose Orange County 405 Freeway toll lanes

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (KABC) -- There's strong opposition in Orange County to toll-lane plans announced by Caltrans for the 405 Freeway.

Huntington Beach resident Bridget Johnson home-schools her children and travels the 405 Freeway every day to get to activities across Orange County. She says she worries about talk of toll lanes.

"We depend on the freeway and I absolutely cannot afford a toll road. I'm having trouble affording the price of gas right now," said Johnson.

That concern is echoed by local politicians from several cities along the 14-mile stretch of the 405 from Costa Mesa to Seal Beach. About 400,000 drivers use the corridor every day.

"We want our money going to free lanes," said Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach.

Last week Caltrans, despite opposition, decided on a plan that adds one free general-purpose lane in each direction, paid for through Measure M with a 1/2-cent sales tax approved by voters, as well as a high-occupancy toll, or "HOT" lane. Caltrans says it would combine with the existing carpool lane to create two express lanes in each direction.

"It's a combination of the two," said Caltrans Spokesman David Richardson. "If you have the right number of people in the car, the required occupancy, it's just like an HOV lane. You get to ride for free."

"If you put toll lanes in, it's a money grab," said state Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa). "Who can afford $10 to $15? Seniors can't afford it. Low-income families cannot afford it."

Caltrans says the cost of the tolls has not yet been worked out. The agency also denies any Measure M money will be used to pay for the express lanes.

"We just don't know where those funds are going to come from at the moment," said Richardson.

While Caltrans says it tries to find a way to pay for its plan, it insists the "HOT" lanes will allow about 2,300 more vehicles per hour during peak hours than if it added just one free lane in each direction.

"It's going to reduce the trip time," said Richardson. "Because remember, anybody that's in one of these two lanes is taking a vehicle out of the general-purpose lanes, so it benefits everybody."

"I would say to the people of Orange County: You're informed, you're intelligent, you're affluent. Stand up and have your voices heard," said Los Alamitos Mayor Gerri Graham-Mejia.

Officials assay that $1.3 billion will come from Measure M money. It will be up to Caltrans to figure out how to come up with the remaining $400 million for the HOT lanes.

Construction of the free lanes is scheduled to begin in 2016.