Attempts to connect the 710 and 210 freeways in Pasadena, repeatedly stymied by opposition from South Pasadena, Pasadena, and neighboring cities that didn’t want another freeway slicing through their communities, came to an end last week when the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted to end its share of funding for a controversial proposed $3.2 billion, 4.9-mile tunnel project.
The potentially impacted communities welcomed Metro’s decision.
“Today’s Metro board decision
is a vote for healthy communities,
fiscal responsibility, and a 21st century approach to transportation in Los Angeles County,” said Ara Najarian, a member of the Metro board and a Glendale city councilman. “The time has come for us to move beyond this outdated project.”
Officials in Alhambra and other San Gabriel Valley cities that have had to suffer the traffic burden of the freeway ending at Valley Boulevard pushed for the money to be redirected to synchronizing traffic signals and other traffic improvement measures in their communities.
While the California Department of Transportation has the final say on the tunnel project, Metro has effectively killed it by removing its share of funding, thus putting the 45-year battle over extension plans for the 710 back to square one.
The freeway, a major conduit for truck freight traffic coming up from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, has been the subject of protests since its construction started in the 1960s.
– Howard Fine
