Riverside Must Face Its Traffic Problem

Re: “Survey: O.C. Voters Oppose New Road Through Forest,” July 24:

I feel sorry for the daily commuters on the Riverside Freeway. The crowding grows almost daily. What those people really need is to not use it at all. What if they had jobs closer to home? What if March Air Force Base could be developed to create jobs for many of those who suffer the Riverside Freeway daily? We could solve our regional airport needs and relieve congestion.

Kathleen Frankeny

Lake Forest

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The solution to Riverside’s traffic issue is not a half-a-billion-dollar freeway punched through the Cleveland National Forest into the Orange County communities.

The problem is Riverside’s politicians who have failed to address the issue of balancing jobs and housing. Large housing developments do not happen in isolation. They require such things as schools, stores, and, of course, local job opportunities.

With Riverside’s huge labor force, one would think their politicians would be able to attract businesses to support that labor force, so the labor force does not have to leave the community and spend several “commuting hours” away from their families. However, I doubt the politicians factored jobs into the equation when they approved all the large housing developments.

Riverside does not need to start planning another tax-eating, hugely expensive freeway. They need to start throwing their politicians out of office.

Paul Arms

Huntington Beach