The Friends of Southern California's Highways advocate realistic, practical solutions to traffic congestion in the Southern California Region (Counties of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial).

Today, our transportation system is forced to carry the traffic loads of the 21st Century on infrastructure that for the most part was built and designed a half-century ago. It should be no wonder that traffic congestion is a daunting part of our everyday lives. Traffic congestion is a solvable problem but it will require some expensive and controversial solutions.


Our group believes that:


* The Regional Freeway System is the backbone of the area's transportation grid and must be expanded to meet the 21st Century needs of commuters, tourists, and freight movement.

* Having an effective transportation system is important to the region's ability to attract and keep good jobs, enjoy good air quality, and a high level of mobility.

* Mass Transit should be provided for those who need and/or want to use it. However, funding for transit should be based on realistic ridership projections.

* Insufficient transportation funding is also a serious problem and hinders proper maintenance and expansion of the system. We need our fair share of federal and state funding; vehicle-use taxes dedicated to roads only; and exploration of other ideas such as toll roads, per-mileage fees, and congestion pricing.

We welcome everyone who has an interest in mobility in Southern California and who believes in the mission statement above. Traffic congestion is a solvable problem and it is time for something to be done.