Supporters of the proposal to put the Long Beach (710) Freeway extension in a tunnel under South Pasadena got a boost Thursday when the MTA board approved $5 million for engineering and technical studies of the project, the Pasadena Star-News reports.
The allocation is the latest skirmish in a 35-year war between advocates of the extension, who support connecting the route to the Foothill (210) Freeway, and South Pasadenans saying they want to protect their city.
The work will build on a much smaller study completed last June by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
That study said the tunnel concept was at least feasible.
“Even though it’s taken 40 years to get here, this is really the time to move forward,” said Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park. His district includes cities bordering the 710 that say they would benefit from a decrease in cars forced onto their surface streets.
