Monday, July 11, 2016
Here are the results of our 710 tunnel poll
http://alhambrasource.org/news/here-are-results-our-710-tunnel-poll
By Phoenix Tso, July 11, 2016

By Phoenix Tso, July 11, 2016
Almost 400 Alhambra Source readers have answered our poll
asking if they support the building of a tunnel to connect the 710
freeway in Alhambra to the 210 freeway in Pasadena. Around 83 percent of
those who answered oppose the prospective tunnel, while around 16
percent support it.
One respondent called the prospective tunnel "a hugely extravagant scheme to encourage more trucks to block up an already overused 210," while another wrote, "Cal Trans needs to pay more attention to the experts' facts relating to health, hazards and realize the detriment to all traffic and residents."
One respondent called the prospective tunnel "a hugely extravagant scheme to encourage more trucks to block up an already overused 210," while another wrote, "Cal Trans needs to pay more attention to the experts' facts relating to health, hazards and realize the detriment to all traffic and residents."
On Sunday, the City of Alhambra put on their 4th annual 710 day,
with carnival rides, food trucks and information booths to promote the
building of the 710 tunnel. Mario Manzanilla, 60, who has lived in
Alhambra for more than 20 years, called the tunnel "long overdue,"
saying, "We finally have a viable solution to completely the 710. If we
continue this route [of doing nothing], it's going to get worse."
Alhambra is part of a coalition of San Gabriel Valley cities that are pushing for the tunnel extension, along with Monterey Park, San Marino, Rosemead, and San Gabriel. Cities that oppose the extension include Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Glendale, and Los Angeles.
Officials have discussed extending the 710 freeway since 1959, according to a 2012 Metro report. Caltrans and Metro have studied the idea of a tunnel to complete this extension since 2006, and published a draft environmental impact report last year that the public could comment on for a limited time.
Summary of SR710 recent activities and events
From Sylvia Plummer, July 11, 2016
1.
Metro Board of Directors
expected to vote in favor of placing proposed ballot measure
on November ballot
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2. No 710 Action Committee and Alliance cities succeed in inserting language in Measure R2 ordinance to prevent use of Measure R2 revenue for SR 710 tunnels
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3. Pasadena Unified School District changes its position on anti-tunnel resolution
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4. Pasadena City Council deliberates Mayor Tornek’s recommendation to vote to repeal Measure A
This
somewhat long email will bring you up to date on recent
developments. It is divided into four sections so that you
can take your time reading each separately, and included are
links to relevant documents and video. The SR710 Tunnel
project is complicated, is tied to the proposed ballot Measure
R2 and also related to actions being taken by our Cities and
School Districts.
We need to
remain vigilant until we kill the tunnels!.
At
its Thursday, June 23rd meeting, the Metro Board of
Directors is expected to consider whether to put a ballot
measure before voters.
A revised spending plan for a potential
November sales tax ballot measure was released Friday by Metro
and would accelerate more projects, allow more transit projects
to become rail, include more overall projects and increase
funding that goes to local cities and unincorporated areas for
their own transportation improvements. The potential ballot
measure — previously referred to as Measure R2 but now called
the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan — would ask
voters to consider a new half-cent sales tax in Los Angeles
County and continuation of the existing Measure R half-cent
sales tax in perpetuity or until voters decide to end the taxes.
The idea is to create a sustained funding stream for mobility
projects crucial to the region’s mobility, economy and quality
of life.
UPDATE:
Measure R2 will appear on November
ballot.
Updated 6/23/16 At today’s Metro Board meeting, the
Directors voted to place the ordinance on the ballot in
November.
2. No 710 Action Committee and Alliance cities succeed in inserting language in Measure R2 ordinance to prevent use of Measure R2 revenue for SR 710 tunnels
Some of you may have
read coverage touting the fact that the SR 710 tunnel
alternative was NOT contained in the expenditure plan for
Metro’s potential ballot measure, R2. Metro would use a balance
of approximately $700 million from 2008 Measure R and a public
private partnership (PPP) as the primary funding source for the
$6 - $10 billion needed to build the SR 710 tunnel alternative
should it emerge as the locally-preferred alternative when the
Final EIR is released (expected in 2017). There is little
doubt that this was a strategic move on the part of Metro to
avoid risking passage of Measure R2 due to inclusion of the
highly controversial and divisive tunnel alternative.
However, last Fall,
during the early stages of development of Metro’s potential
ballot measure and expenditure plan, No 710 Action Committee
member and attorney, Richard Helgeson, uncovered language in the
proposed measure that would permit tax revenue collected from
Measure R2 for projects, such as the SR 710 tunnel alternative,
originally contained in 2008’s Measure R. From December through
February, the No 710 Action Committee brought this to the
attention of the Metro Board on multiple occasions and submitted
a letter detailing this provision. During a meeting of No 710
Action Committee representatives with Metro CEO Phillip
Washington, we discussed this issue further and it was suggested
by the CEO’s staff that we submit specific language for the
Measure R2 ordinance that would eliminate the loophole and
preclude use of R2 funds for the SR 710 tunnel alternative.
Mr.
Helgeson drafted language and submitted it to Metro. In
addition, the Cities of South Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge
suggested similar language. We are very happy to report that
language has been inserted in Measure R2 ordinance that
states:
“No Net Revenues
generated from the Sales Tax shall be expended on the
State Route 710 North Gap Closure Project
”
This language does not prevent the tunnels
from being built. There is still the very real possibility that
the tunnels will be named as the locally-referred alternative in
the Final EIR. The inclusion of the language simply means that
voters who wish to support Measure R2 and the worthwhile
projects it contains can be confident that no revenue from that
Measure will be used to fund the SR 710 tunnels.
3. Pasadena Unified School District changes its position on anti-tunnel resolution
The Five Star
Coalition is comprised of 5 school districts – Burbank,
Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena and South Pasadena. In
March, the Pasadena Unified School District abstained from
voting to approve a Five Star Coalition Joint Resolution
opposing the tunnel. The Joint Resolution can be viewed here:
http://pusd.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=15&clip_id=592&meta_id=91404.
The other four school districts in the coalition all voted in
favor. Because the bylaws of the Coalition require unanimity,
the Coalition was unable to use the proposed Joint Resolution as
planned.
Recently, the
West Pasadena Residents Association submitted a letter
requesting that the PUSD Board put the issue on their agenda
again for further discussion and reconsideration. The Board
agreed, and that meeting was held last Thursday, June 16th.
The No 710
Action Committee and the WPRA worked very hard to bring speakers
to the meeting. In all, we had 13 people there to address the
Board, including: Dr. Ed Avol (USC Keck Environmental Health),
Sarah Gavit (Pasadena resident and WPRA Board member),
Kenyon Harbison (new president of WPRA), Claire Bogaard (No
710), Mic Hansen (No 710), Joe Cano (No 710), Andrew Blumenfeld
(former president of LCF Governing Board), Jill Fosselman
(Pasadena resident), Kendis Heffley (Westridge School), Jon
Primuth (South Pasadena School Board), a PTA officer from
Blair, Elena Phleger (Sequoyah School) and Jan SooHoo (No 710).
Video of the June 16th
meeting, including the comments of our speakers, can be viewed
at (relevant section begins at 1:39):
Our group made
very articulate and convincing statements that convinced 5 of 7
Board members to decide that they DO want to support the Joint
Resolution. Their representative to the Coalition will notify
the Five Star Coalition at its next meeting that PUSD is now on
board.
Perhaps it
seems like a small step, but our cities can also use this Joint
Resolution of School Districts representing over 70,000 students
in their campaigns to stop the tunnel, and the adoption of the
Joint Resolution aligns and solidifies the position of the
School Districts with that of their cities.
UPDATE:
5-Star Coalition
Unanimously Passes Resolution Against 710 Freeway Tunnel
after Pasadena Unified changes its mind
On June 23, 2016 the Five-Star Education Coalition (5SC)
comprised of representatives from the school boards of
Burbank, Glendale, La Canada, Pasadena and South Pasadena
unanimously voted to pass a resolution which opposes any
construction of a 710 Freeway tunnel extension:
"The 5SC does hereby oppose any of the Tunnel
Alternative variations: single-bore or dual-bore, toll or no
toll, truck or no truck, express bus or no express bus, to
extend the SR-710 freeway from Valley Boulevard in the City
of Los Angeles to the 210 freeway in the City of Pasadena,
and instead supports the development of a fiscally and
environmentally responsible alternative."
4. Pasadena City Council deliberates Mayor Tornek’s recommendation to vote to repeal Measure A
At the Pasadena City
Council meeting on June 13th, no vote was taken,
but in this case, it was a good thing. Several very positive
things emerged. All members of the Council expressed their
opposition to the tunnel. There is no longer any ambiguity
about unanimity of Pasadena’s City Council in opposing the SR
710 tunnel alternative. There did seem to be some confusion
and disagreement about the legal ramifications of Measure A.
Some Councilmembers firmly believed that they are already free
to do whatever it takes to fight the tunnel, but others feel
their hands are still tied by Measure A. Because there are
newer Councilmembers who are not as well versed on Measure A’s
legal ramifications, and to clear up the ambiguities, they
decided to hold consultations with their legal advisors before
moving on this issue any further.
The second issue discussed
was the timing of a vote on the repeal and the need to carry
out a public education campaign. Several Councilmembers
thought that putting the repeal vote on the November ballot
was too risky. Some thought that it would not leave
sufficient time for public education and that people will be
preoccupied with the Presidential race and would not give a
down ballot item serious thought and consideration. After
discussion about timing and costs, it was decided that it may
be better to take the repeal to voters in March during their
Municipal election, or even to hold a special election. They
will continue to explore these options, and then bring the
issue back at a future City Council meeting.
Video of the Monday, June
13th City Council meeting can be viewed at
(beginning at 2:25):
The move to repeal Measure
A, called Restore Our Rights, now has a Facebook page and a
website where you can follow developments in this issue.
You can view the website
at: http://www.restoreourrights.com/
The Facebook page is at:
https://www.facebook.com/restoreourrights/
UPDATE:
Pasadena City
Council
Tables Discussion of Measure A Repeal, Issue Won't Be on
November Ballot
A Special election is tabled for
more discussion at undetermined time. Read more at:
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