The Board of the Rossmoor Community Services District has submitted a Resolution opposing High Occupancy Toll lanes on the I-405 Improvement Project. The board will hold a rally against the toll lanes on Monday, Aug. 12.
That same night, the Seal Beach City Council is expected to approve a letter opposing toll lanes at the Seal Beach agency’s first council meeting of the month.
In keeping with that decision, District Board President Michael Maynard testified at the public hearing in Long Beach on July 24. The hearing was called to obtain feedback and comments on the recently released Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS and a corresponding action by the Orange County Transit Authority Board to reintroduce the potential for HOT lanes.
While the Board’s Resolution is a strong expression of opposition to toll lanes by Rossmoor’s elected representatives, it is the voice of the community that will have the greatest impact on a final decision on the configuration of the Project. As a result, the District will hold a community-wide “Rally” in order for Rossmoor to have a stronger voice on this important decision. The rally will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 12, at the Rush Park Auditorium, 3021 Blume Drive in Rossmoor.
OCTA was asked to make a presentation about the current state of the project, but declined to do so. Therefore, the District’s Board of Directors will host a Rally in order to give the public a forum for expressing their sentiments regarding HOT lanes as a potential element of the Project. The comments from the public will be submitted to OCTA to become a part of the public record for the Final EIR/EIS. Everyone submitting comments will receive a response prior to the conclusion of the EIR/EIS process.
The residents of Rossmoor are specifically being invited to the Rally to let the OCTA Board know how they feel about this new potential for toll lanes. Local officials and residents from neighboring communities are also welcome to participate at the rally.
Regarding this latest development regarding HOT lanes, Board President Michael Maynard said, “A decade ago, the Rossmoor community was successful in defeating a planned route for the I-605 flyover of an HOV lane for the current West County Connector project; having it re-engineered further away from Rossmoor homes”.
Moreover, he said, “We can do it again if we come together to let OCTA know that what is good for them is not necessarily good for Rossmoor and our neighboring communities. Also, the needs of Long Beach for mitigation should not be shouldered by Orange County taxpayers. On both of these issues, it is the voice of the public that should have the greatest influence on the OCTA’s final decision.”
