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Completing the 241 is good for traffic relief. And the economy.

It's no secret that California's economic future hangs in the balance. Ranking dead last in the nation in new business creation and suffering a 12.4 percent unemployment rate, it might seem like there's no relief in sight. But there is. Because completing the 241 means more than just relieving traffic between LA and San Diego, two of the nation's busiest business hubs. It means creating thousands of jobs and helping our economy bounce back:

The 241 completion is projected to have a significant economic impact on Orange County and the rest of California.
Construction will create more than 13,600 jobs in Orange County alone.
3,800 more jobs will be created throughout California.
The project will generate an estimated $3.1 billion in economic output throughout the state.
All work will be completed with sensitivity to the environment.

So what can you do? Click the "Email" button and tell your local representatives that the road to economic recovery... is a road.

Economic Benefit Analysis 241 Completion Project
Economic Benefit Analysis 241 Completion Press Release

241 project economic facts taken from a June 2011 study by Beacon Economics, LLC commissioned by the Transportation Corridor Agencies of Orange County.

What is the 241 Toll Road?

The Toll Roads sought approval to complete the 241 Toll Road (to connect to I-5 near San Clemente) from the U.S. Department of Commerce, following a decision by the California Coastal Commission to deny a coastal consistency certification for the project. The Department of Commerce rejected the route.

"The regional economy needs the 241" said Jerry Amante, Chairman of TCA. "The 241 wouldn't require the huge taxpayer costs associated with traditional road construction. It would alleviate traffic, facilitate goods movement and boost our local economy by providing jobs."

After the Department of Commerce decision, The Toll Roads began a new outreach effort to connect with stakeholders and find a traffic solution.

Why complete it?

California is the 11th largest economy in the world. Traffic from Mexico is growing; the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are generating enormous regional traffic; and the number of weekend recreational drivers heading to Orange and San Diego County beaches and other attractions continues to increase. So how does traffic get back and forth from Orange and San Diego Counties? There is only one direct way - Interstate 5.

Extending the 241 will ease traffic on Interstate 5 by creating an alternative route for the hundreds of thousands of motorists a day who travel between San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Without the toll road, travel from the San Diego/Orange County border to Mission Viejo will take one hour in 2025. With the toll road constructed, the same drive on Interstate 5 will take 25 minutes and only 16 minutes on the toll road. The 241 is also expected to take pressure off Interstate 15, currently used by many driving from eastern Orange County into San Diego County. The 241 Toll Road will carry thousands of vehicles that would otherwise be clogging neighborhood streets and Interstate 5.

Without Alignment

With Alignment

Interstate 5 Critical to Regional Mobility and Goods Movement

A recent report ranked the Los Angeles area first and the San Diego area 13th in the nation for travel time delay (2007 Annual Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute). In 2006 Orange and San Diego counties alone accounted for 24 percent of all daily vehicle-hours of delay and 28 percent of all congested miles on California urban freeways (2006 State Highway Congestion Monitoring Program, Caltrans). Moreover, between 1999 and 2006, vehicle miles travelled in Orange County increased 13 percent and in San Diego County 11 percent (2006 Annual Average Daily Traffic, Caltrans). This congestion delay cost approximately $710 per traveler annually in 2005 (2007 Annual Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute).

I-5 is a critical Interstate route. It connects the largest port facilities for goods imported to the U.S. (Los Angeles/Long Beach) to east-west Interstates, allowing trucks to deliver goods all across America. On average, over 10,000 trucks use I-5 at the San Diego-Orange County line every day (2006 Annual Average Daily Truck Traffic on the California State Highway System, Caltrans). If nothing is done to alleviate traffic conditions, the situation will continue to deteriorate.

In September 2007, the U.S. Department of Transportation selected I-5 as one of six Interstate routes nationwide to participate in a new Federal initiative to develop multi-state corridors to help reduce congestion. This Federal designation as a Corridor of the Future recognizes the importance to the nation of the entire I-5 corridor from Mexico to Canada, and focuses attention and resources on ensuring the reliability of the corridor as a nationally significant element of our transportation system.

- May 23, 2008 letter from the Federal Highway Administration to the Department of Commerce

241 Toll Road will Accomodate Already Approved Growth

"The growth is coming, regardless. This project will play a key role in achieving future mobility for southern Orange County."

"We need additional capacity in this corridor. I think we need that capacity to keep our economy strong, to clean our air, and to reduce greenhouse gas emission, and to maintain our quality of life."

- March 2, 2008 letter from Southern California Association of Governments Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata

241 Toll Road to Handle Regional Traffic
Traffic studies show few trips on the 241 will be short, local trips

On the 241 segment just north of I-5, less than 1% of the Foothill South traffic will begin or end their trip in San Clemente.
On the 241 segment just south of Ortega Highway, 7% of the Foothill South traffic will begin or end their trip in San Clemente.
On the 241 segment just north of Ortega Highway, 3% of the Foothill South traffic will begin or end their trip in San Clemente.

- Traffic Technical Report Section 7.5 by Austin-Foust (December 2003)

Who will pay for the road?

TCA will sell toll-revenue bonds to private and institutional investors to pay for construction. These bonds will be repaid by future tolls. These tolls will come from drivers who choose to use the road. It's pretty simple: those who use it will pay. Since the bonds will not be backed by the government, taxpayers would not be responsible for repaying the debt if future toll revenues fall short.

Take Action: Email Your Representatives

Don't just sit there. Take a stand. And take action by emailing your local representatives below. Feel free to de-select any if you like. Then send them a message, loud and clear, that you're fed up with worsening gridlock and want traffic relief for all of Orange County that completing the 241 will help achieve. Do it today. Together, we can all keep Orange County moving forward.