Coronado Bridge and Corridor to NAS North Island Toll

In 2002 SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) removed the toll on the Coronado Bridge because enough money had been collected to pay for the Bridge and future upkeep on the bridge. Since then the Coronado Bay Bridge has been toll free. Now the Coronado City Council wants to build an underground tunnel to relieve traffic congestion between the bridge and N..A.S. North Island. To pay for the tunnel the Council wants to charge a $1.25 toll each direction to cross the Coronado Bridge. This toll can increase to $2.50 each direction. Toll readers would be placed at the Bridge entrance and exit in both directions near Glorietta Bay. I support the military and their families and I’m proud to share the Island with the men and women who travel to and from North Island Naval Air Station however if the proposed tunnel is primarily for use by N.A.S. North Island then the logical place for the toll readers would be at the entrance and exit of N.A.S. North Island for those drivers who will be the users of the new tunnel. Most residents won’t be using the tunnel so why are we paying a toll for something we won’t be using? A tunnel project is costly. Routing traffic to First Avenue and Glorietta Bay around the perimeter of Coronado to relieve cross traffic, accidents and congestion makes more sense and saves dollars. To charge a toll for a bridge already paid for so that the money can be used to pay for a proposed new tunnel sounds like an elaborate sceme to bring back the toll? Start thinking outside the box. Identify the real problem and look for multiple solutions. Why is the tunnel the only solution? In my opinion tunnel vision is being employed here. When people put their heads together someone will come up with a solution that will knock their socks off.