710 Extension: Residents Discuss Ideas at First Week of Community Meetings

Residents of several San Gabriel Valley communities gathered at the Alhambra Library Wednesday evening for one of the first meetings in a series of Metro SR-710 Conversations, “Where have we been? Where are we going?" 

The Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena will host another meeting, Saturday, Feb. 19, from 2-4 p.m. South Pasadena meetings will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and Wednesday, March 9, from 6-8 p.m. at . 

Metro is holding these meetings to get public input on the environmental review process for the proposed extension of the 710 Freeway. The purpose of the first meeting series is “to get the community into the conversation and to find solutions by looking at the historic and futuristic role of transportation," said Metro Communications Manager Helen Ortiz Gilstrap. 

After a short video, people were placed into smaller groups to discuss the issues they have in common and their transportation concerns. Residents from cities all around the valley were able to find common ground when it came to things they appreciate about their cities: walkability, diversity, family neighborhoods, schools, restaurants and the proximity to downtown and other areas.

But when it came to sharing their concerns about transportation, the discussion started to sound more like a debate. There were arguments for and against the proposed tunnel to connect the 710 and 210 freeways.  Locals came armed with reports and studies that validated their own arguments for or against closing the 710 gap.

Several Alhambra residents complained that the congestion around Valley Boulevard and Fremont Avenue is clogging up surface streets and that an extension of the 710 would alleviate some of that traffic. James Rojas, a longtime Alhambra resident and former Metro employee, proposed the alternative of expanding light rail corridors and regional bike paths as a way to get cars off the road. Another Alhambra resident argued he’d much rather ride in his car than use public transportation.

In response to the proposed tunnel, Jan Soohoo of La Canada said, “our transportation officials aren’t listening, and they’re not looking forward. They have tunnel vision.” Other concerns ranged from the health impacts of creating a 710 extension, the expense involved and the need for more public transportation in a city where freeways are the dominant mode of transportation.

Joanne Nuckols, a South Pasadena resident and "No 710 Freeway Tunnel" member, attended the first two of Metro's 710 meetings this past week. She said she "was very encouraged by the open discussion about protection/preservation of community values, quality of life in the neighborhoods, sustainable development and transportation solutions, all non-freeway issues."

When it comes to the proposed extension of the 710 Freeway, Nuckols said, "we must unequivocally say 'no' to any surface or tunnel freeway and protect our town. Then we must make sure that Metro/Caltrans actually implements our thoughts and ideas.”

South Pasadena resident and City Council member Richard Schneider believes the most important part of these meetings will be the “Scoping: Going on the Record” phase where Metro will actually be determining the scope of the project for the environmental review process.

“Metro has been vague about what type of project they’re looking into," Schneider said. "I don’t believe they will take the tunnel option off the table.”

SR-710 Conversation Meetings will take place over the next six weeks. will host a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m. Click here for the complete schedule of Metro meetings. Click to read our previous coverage on South Pasadena Patch.