This is a big deal for Chula Vista and the South County.”
That was the heady proclamation made by then South Bay Expressway CEO Greg Hulsizer in the days leading up to the 2007 opening of the South Bay Expressway.
The then-new toll road was supposed to cut down on driving times, save commuters gas money and “make driving fun again.”
In fact the county’s first toll road was a glimmering piece of infrastructure that was worthy of awards and adulation. To some.
The Reason Foundation wrote: “The South Bay Expressway toll road in San Diego and its partners were honored with four awards … for the road’s innovative design and construction. The awards include three PCI Design Awards from the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) for the use of precast concrete in the construction of the project’s signature Otay River Bridge and the 2008 Transportation Innovation Award from Women Transportation Seminar.”
From the outset there was reasonable grumbling that it was unfair that the southern portion of the 125 would cost people travelling to and from South County—residents—money. The counterpoint, of course, was commuters were free to drive the long, cheaper way to Interstate 805. Or they could pay the toll. Or, better yet, buy a toll pass.
It was yet another case of the Haves telling the Have Nots to stop whining about fairness.
But then other problems emerged. Toll passes didn’t work properly. Automated toll machines left motorists wondering if their commute was paid for or not. Even the Haves were put off by the fact that 10 years after the motorway was open there were still limited entrances and exits and the fun driving experience wasn’t quite what they had been promised.
Ownership of the toll road has changed a number of times, with one of the original entities declaring bankruptcy, and savvy politicians calling for the elimination of the toll altogether. Meanwhile the current owner, SANDAG, faces a magnificent lawsuit from motorists claiming they have been chronically overcharged.
Over time and not unexpectedly the Big Deal turned into the Big Pain.
