Here’s the news release from Caltrans and Metro:
(May 4, 2015) The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will conduct two public hearings this week to record input on the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) concerning SR-710 North.
The hearings are scheduled Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at the La Cañada High School auditorium, 4463 Oak Grove Drive, La Cañada-Flintridge, Calif. 91011 with map viewing 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. and public hearing 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Thursday, May 7, 2015 at the Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church, 2241 N. Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90032 with map viewing 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. and public hearing 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Both meetings will be available via live stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sr-710-study
Caltrans and Metro are under a mandate from two million Los Angeles County voters that passed Measure R in 2008 to study a 100 square mile region affected by congestion and pollution caused by incomplete transportation infrastructure between the end of the I-710 freeway in El Sereno and the I-210 Freeway in Pasadena.
The Draft EIR/EIS proposes five alternatives regarding a 4.5 mile gap separating the freeways.
No Build option that would leave conditions as they are
A traffic management system to upgrade and synchronize signals and improvements to local street intersections to more quickly move traffic that exits the dead end freeway
A rapid bus line featuring high frequency service with minimal stops and potentially a dedicated bus lane
Light rail to carry passengers between East Los Angeles and Pasadena
A freeway tunnel that would extend the SR-710
No decisions have been made on any proposed alternative in the Draft EIR/EIS.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the public hearings and read the document at http://goo.gl/84KSgF Public comment can be made on the link provided. The full document can be viewed by appointment at the Caltrans District Office at 100 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and at the Metro library, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, Calif. 90012. Copies are also available at public libraries listed here: http://www.metro.net/projects/sr-710-conversations/
An EIR is required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and an EIS fulfills requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The laws require government agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects. Information from public comments will be weighed before preparing the final environmental document.
Altogether, approximately 26 detailed technical studies are included in the Draft EIR/EIS. Through the process of compiling the Draft EIR/EIS, Caltrans and Metro conducted 92 community meetings, participated in six city-sponsored community forums and held over 200 briefings with community stakeholders. The public comment period is scheduled to end July 6, 2015.
Categories: Projects
Will public comment in real time at these meeting be permitted in the American democratic tradition of an open marketplace of ideas? At the last LA Metro meeting, Mr. Sepulveda asked me to define “democracy” when I asked to speak. I replied that democracy is a Greek word meaning: “demo” (The People) and “cracy” (To Rule.) He assured me that at the next meeting there will be a free and open discussion with the attendees. Will this meeting be open as such to public comment in real time or will it be more Metro CYAing for an eventual face-off in court?
Solve two problems at once. Construct the tunnel and include light rail down the middle. Then get smart and connect the north end with the Gold Line and the south end with the Blue Line. Not just a connection but a alternate route. Lets wake up and inter-connect the light rail system where ever possible instead of just crossing over one another or abruptly ending like the Crenshaw Line is designed. And yes, there is already a connection being made in downtown but why force northbound Blue Line passengers to ride clear into downtown then out east on the Gold Line when a shorter route can be provided with a minimal expense of building turnouts at both junctions.