FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June
9, 2015
Alhambra Wastes $150,000 to Create Gridlock Event vs. Real Traffic Solutions
City
Officials' Tactics, Expenditures Backfire As
Alhambra Residents Seek Real Traffic Relief
While Alhambra officials have proclaimed June 10 as "710 Day" to celebrate their efforts to close the perceived gap between the 710 and 210 freeways, Alhambra citizens are shocked to learn that nearly $150,000 have been spent to create gridlock on their city streets for a one-day event instead of applying those funds toward developing a comprehensive regional plan. The organization Alhambrans Against the 710 supports the recently-proposed regional plan, "Beyond the 710", developed by a coalition of five cities, organizations and elected officials which was presented to Metro on May 28th. That regional plan is estimated to cost $705 Million compared to the estimate of $5.65 Billion for the SR-710 Toll Tunnels.
For
the past two years, the City of Alhambra has hosted
a "Close the Gap" event to restrict
traffic on Fremont Ave. with the intent to
demonstrate that the proposed Toll Tunnels are
necessary to relieve traffic on Alhambra’s streets.
According to a recent public records request,
$120,000 was spent on “Close the Gap” street banners
along Fremont Ave, an additional $23,000 on event
expenses and an unspecified amount for salaries of
city workers required to attend the event.
Instead, some Alhambra residents say the traffic jam created by the “710 Day” event is similar to the traffic that will be created in Alhambra by drivers avoiding the tunnels due to tolls and lack of intermediate exits that would provide access to communities between Alhambra and Pasadena. The increased traffic volume from toll avoidance and induced demand created if the $5.6-$12 Billion tunnels were built is unacceptable. Some residents also cite poor urban planning by Alhambra officials and green-lighting of high density development along the Fremont corridor as a major contributor to traffic congestion in the City.
Instead, some Alhambra residents say the traffic jam created by the “710 Day” event is similar to the traffic that will be created in Alhambra by drivers avoiding the tunnels due to tolls and lack of intermediate exits that would provide access to communities between Alhambra and Pasadena. The increased traffic volume from toll avoidance and induced demand created if the $5.6-$12 Billion tunnels were built is unacceptable. Some residents also cite poor urban planning by Alhambra officials and green-lighting of high density development along the Fremont corridor as a major contributor to traffic congestion in the City.
Responsible Alhambrans Against the 710 believe that the proposed 710 Toll Tunnels would not only destroy neighborhoods, but would also be a massive waste of money that could be better spent on different projects to relieve Alhambra's traffic. Caltrans’ and Metro’s own studies show that the expenditure of billions of dollars would not improve commutes appreciably, and would create additional congestion on Alhambra's streets. Responsible Alhambrans Against the 710 calls for the City of Alhambra to join and collaborate with the "Beyond the 710" plan to relieve local traffic.
710 Traffic Relief Background:
Beyond the 710
Beyond the 710 proposes a $705 Million package of remedies to address the traffic problems that plague Alhambra streets along the north-south corridor between Valley Boulevard and the 210 Freeway in Pasadena. This package is endorsed by the Cities of Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, plus the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the No 710 Action Committee and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank
More
info: http://Beyondthe710.org, No710.com
Alhambrans Against the 710
This organization of concerned Alhambrans opposes City officials spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to promote the most expensive of five alternatives studied in the $40 Billion draft environmental impact report (DEIR) that is currently under public review.
More info on expenditures: http://alhambransagainst710.com/costs-to-taxpayers
Contact
info:
Melissa
Michelson