The Orange Grove piece in the Register ("Tunnel just 1 of 2 bad traffic plans,” Oct. 28) comes from the pro-tem mayor of a built-out, landlocked city with "no dog in this fight." Laguna Niguel should have been a help when Mission Viejo tried to solve the Avery/I-5 interchange problem years ago. It has only the single Crown Valley access to I-5, and another on-ramp would have been good for them. When the 73 toll road was being built, there was a chance to fix the old Avery mess. The toll road authority proposed a bridge across I-5 connecting Avery Parkway with Paseo De La Colinas. That would have provided an improved interchange for both cities. Laguna Niguel refused because they feared it would impact the car dealership on Camino Capistrano. Sales tax revenue trumped traffic improvement. The 73 overpass now prevents any attempt to fix that problem in that way.

Mission Viejo has to face the traffic problems of development alone. The tunnel project would allow a mass transit route to Ontario airport, helping with that issue. Santa Ana Canyon is too narrow to allow further widening or the subject of a tunnel would not have been brought up. Laguna Niguel has not been helpful in the past, and their advice is irrelevant on future traffic issues. The 91 traffic impacts Orange County because those people are commuting to jobs here. All options should be considered. Laguna Niguel forfeited their role as advisor years ago.

Michael Kennedy, M.D.
Mission Viejo
Former member, Planning and Transportation Commission, City of Mission Viejo