Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger
- LETTER FROM THE TORREY PINES ASSOCIATION:
-
March 7, 2006
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-4633
RE: Approval by TCA of Foothill-South Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
We, the Board of Counselors of the Torrey Pines Association, are writing to express our great disappointment in the decision by the Transportation Corridor Agencies in Orange County to allow construction of a six-lane toll road through San Onofre State Park and the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy. We find it unacceptable to run a toll road through a State Park under any circumstances. This would set a dangerous precedent for State Parks throughout California and should not be considered as a way to relieve traffic congestion.
San Onofre State Park is one of the most popular State Parks in California, with 2.7 million visitors per year. As you know, this land was set aside by President Nixon and Governor Ronald Reagan as a haven for the people of California and our visitors in the middle of a highly urbanized area which is also highly environmentally sensitive. Please do not allow this or other state parks to be taken away from the public as our population continues to increase and the number of vehicles on our highways continues to escalate.
The Torrey Pines Association, founded in 1950, is a non-profit organization consisting of 674 members, whose primary objective is to preserve, protect and foster improvements in the Torrey Pines State Reserve through both fundraising and advisory efforts and consultation. We applaud your support of our State Parks, your commitment to smart growth and your concern for the environment --including curbing global warming. We support your administration's statement of disappointment in the decision and your commitment to continue to explore viable alternatives and work with stakeholders to mitigate impacts of this project should it go forward.
We understand the need to relieve traffic congestion in Orange County. We would like you to demand that TCA reconsider alternatives to destroying public land and/or State Parks and we respectfully request that your administration find alternative traffic solutions for this region, such as the encouragement of more carpooling; improvement of the rail system (making it more convenient, reliable and affordable); and the upgrading of traffic flow methods on Interstate 5.
Please keep us informed of any action your administration will take to address this matter, as well as other developments regarding the future of this valuable habitat and recreational resource.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Jensen, President
And the Counselors of
Torrey Pines Association