Congressman Levin Calls for Independent Investigation of TCA

The Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) has spent millions hiring consultants to conduct public outreach. If no publicity is bad publicity, then TCA’s efforts have more than paid for themselves. In the past few weeks, TCA has made headlines and garnered the attention of a Congressman, an Assemblyman and cities. Unfortunately for TCA, instead of gaining support for the long delayed 241 road project as TCA had hoped, the publicity is eroding the public’s trust, driving TCA to find a way to navigate the ever widening controversies building around it.

Congressman Levin recently wrote to Governor Newsom, calling for an independent investigation of TCA’s possible misuse of public money. Even Assemblyman William Brough, a long time TCA supporter, appears to be following suit. Apparently troubled by the toll the heavy debt load is taking on TCA’s long term sustainability, he recently introduced AB 1273, forcing cities to collect developer fees only for roads completed and in service as of 2020. If passed, this roadblock would essentially end new road construction.

TCA member cities, which charge developer fees between $4,126 and $5,797 for each single family home and pay them to TCA, are speaking up too. On April 3rd, San Clemente City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Congressman Levin’s call to action. That same night, by a slim 3-2 margin, Dana Point’s City Council debated but failed to pass a similar resolution. Two of the no votes, Mayor Joe Muller and Councilman Rick Viczorek, are TCA board members. The remaining no vote, Councilman Jamey Federico, is the third of the triumvirate majority that ran as a slate and so far, have voted in lock step. Council members Paul Wyatt and Debra Lewis voted to support an independent investigation.

What caused this change in direction for TCA’s fortunes? The original legislation called for building privately funded roads, which Caltrans could lease to private entities for up to 35 years. Tolls were allowed only if no other adequate funding sources were available. The $1 billion anticipated cost would be paid off, and the roads returned to the public after 35 years as freeway.

But that plan veered off course in the mid-nineties when TCA added tolls that now appear will continue through 2050 at least. The big question, is TCA viable in the long run? For the past twenty years, TCA’s $2.9 billion debt has climbed to over $6.3 billion, according to Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates. However, during that same period, TCA has not built a single mile of roadway. Between 2019 and 2053, it is estimated TCA will pay another $11.6 billion in interest and principal.

News stories tracking consultants’ $185 an hour for newsreaders, consultants’ $90 an hour fees to compile news stories and Venture Strategic’s $14,000 bill for a single meeting only piled on to TCA’s crumbling reputation. The LA Times also detailed Republican consultant Curt Pringle & Associates’ lucrative TCA contracts. It unearthed daughter Katie Pringle’s bill to TCA for her 28 hour work day which apparently turned out to be a double bill. She had only worked 14 hours that day. On top of that, it turns out Pringle also gets paid as a subcontractor, hired by other TCA contractors.

Will TCA embrace the independent investigation? How else to selvage its image and rebuild the public’s trust? Hiring its own auditor to deliver a clean bill of health will only add to the mounting suspicion. Another TCA consultant’s conclusions will lack any credibility.