By Charly SHELTON

Last night, a meeting was held at Maranatha High School in Pasadena to gather public comments on the planned extension of the 710 Freeway. SR 710 North Project should not to be confused with the I-710 Corridor Project that enhances the already existing length of the 710 Freeway. SR 710 North Project is a planned extension of the state route portion of the 710 from Valley Boulevard, its current outlet/termination point, up through Pasadena. This will connect more closely with local freeways and reduce traffic strain on the already overburdened Alhambra/East LA area. Proposed projects include additional bus line service, additional light rail service, a freeway tunnel or better stoplight management and street enhancements.

Public comments at the meeting were largely against the tunnel alternative, favoring instead the street enhancements. The public can still add a comment to the official record by visiting the project website and filling out the comments section. These comments must pertain to the current proposed group of plans and their expected adverse effects, all of which can be found in the full report on the project – the Focused Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The RDEIR/SDEIS is available, alongside the comment form, at the project website at metro.net/projects/SR-710-Conversations/. Comments will be accepted until July 5.

Check back with CV Weekly next week for more in depth coverage of the meeting.

  Charly Shelton