Can Assemblyman Van Tran have a mulligan? According to a Daily Pilot editorial, he might need one. Apparently Tran has been celebrating the signing into law of Assembly Bill 2906, the “Orange County Traffic Relief Act of 2008.”
According to a Daily Pilot editorial, “AB 2906 actually repeals a law instead of giving birth to a new one. It dumps a provision in the California Vehicle Code that required a 4-foot buffer zone between carpool lanes and the regular mixed-flow freeway lanes.”
That sounds good, but “Couple the lane addition created by Tran’s bill with Project F of the Renewed Measure M, and you’ll find we’re on the brink of significantly boosting through-put on the 55 between the 22 Freeway and the 405.”
The Daily Pilot editorial also tells us what Project F is: “an estimated $366 million project slated to add additional lanes to the 55 to “increase highway capacity and reduce congestion,” according to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s website.”
And where is all that increased capacity going to end up? In Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. The residents in that area are going to get slammed! And guess what? They are constituents of Tran’s 68th Assembly District.
I have been saying for some time that a Costa Mesa City Council Democrat could take out Tran. If traffic blows up in the southern end of his Assembly District, that will be more true than ever! Either Costa Mesa Council Member Katrina Foley or Linda Dixon would give Tran a run for his money!
The 68th Assembly District includes the cities of: Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Stanton, and Westminster.
Van Tran is termed out Art after this next race! And then he will get appointed by McCain
Your link to the Daily Pilot “Editorial” takes you, in fact, to a commentary by Byron de Arakal. He’s not a member of the Pilot’s editorial board – he’s an independent columnist. That being said, his commentary poked this beast squarely in the eye with a big, sharp stick and posed questions that do need to be answered – soon.
Pot Stirrer,
Thanks for the clarification! It was indeed a guest editorial – and Byron absolutely nailed it.