When all is said and done in regards to the curious decision to postpone the July 25 federal hearing on the proposed 241-toll road extension, a.k.a. Trestles toll road, we may be looking back on that decision as a blessing in disguise.

The latest stop in this seemingly never-ending battle was set to take place just about a month ago at the Bren Center on the campus of UC Irvine. When the fear that those in opposition of the proposed toll road would show up in the form of 10,000 plus, the meeting was abruptly postponed until further notice. Those who had planned to make their voices heard once again were thus left without any answers and no clear time line for the scheduling of a new hearing. A massive ‘make your voices heard’ effort was set-up by our friends at Surfrider Foundation, as well as many other diligent groups and individuals, and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce obliged. The public hearing has now been rescheduled for September 22, 2008 in O’Brien Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds from 10:30 am until 8:30 pm. It was in Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds back in February where the proposed road took one of it’s biggest losses to date when the California Coastal Commission voted 8-2 against the project.

The aforementioned blessing in disguise? In the weeks leading up to this next stop on the journey to defeat the Trestles toll road project the ASP world tour will be making it’s annual stop at Trestles with the 2008 Boost Mobile Pro. The holding period for the event is scheduled for September 7-13. The opportunity this will provide to once again rally the surf community around this cause will be immeasurable. With many of the surf industry leaders, thousands of fans who will be attendance, and even more watching online via webcast getting set to fix their eyes upon the revered break, the Boost Mobile Pro is set-up to be the ideal rallying point for the Sept. 22 hearing before Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

As much as the surf contest itself, there will undoubtedly be a focus on the celebration of Trestles and the necessity to preserve the area. This will be Trestles time to shine and you can be sure the upcoming hearing at O’Brien Hall will be filled to capacity, and then some, by one hell of an energized and passionate group of those who fiercely oppose the proposed Trestles toll road. 5ones will be sure to keep you updated upon any further notices.

If you wish to speak at the hearing, you must mail your request* via USPS or commercial carrier (no email) to:

Thomas Street, Attorney Advisor
NOAA Office of General Counsel for Ocean Services
1305 East-West Highway, Room 6111
Silver Spring, MD 20910

*Written requests must be received by September 12th and include the individual’s full name, address, and declare that they are speaking as an individual, not an organization.

*If you wish to express let your voice be heard via signs, there is a size limit to the signs allowed in the hall, which is 13 inches x 24 inches.

Tags: Surfrider Foundation, Trestles

Posted by Shaun on Friday, August 29th, 2008 in Surfing.

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