Metro will hold its second meeting of the newly formed I-710 South Corridor Task Force (710 Task Force) on Monday, November 8, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please note that this meeting is virtual only due to the ongoing pandemic.  

During the first 710 Task Force meeting in September, Metro and Caltrans made a commitment to develop a more collaborative public engagement process to guide our development of an investment strategy for the I-710 South Corridor that reflects the needs of residents in impacted communities.  

Since then, Metro has moved forward on several fronts including small group discussions with community-based organizations, school districts and task force members.

Reflecting the input received to date, Metro will continue to initiate innovative outreach, awareness and coordination through the partnerships formed and ongoing small group and task force meetings.

Metro has also made a commitment to the public and to the Metro Board to provide greater transparency and public engagement by announcing our 710 Task Force meeting dates at least two weeks in advance to provide sufficient notice for the public.  We will also publish the agenda and other materials at least one week in advance of the meeting (by November 1, 2021) for review by the Task Force and public. 

After a conversation led by our moderator Erika Morales, there will be an opportunity to provide your comments. Each speaker will be given one minute for comments in order to allow as many as possible to participate. Please note that each of the future task force meetings will include public participation and an opportunity for comment. 

To participate in the meeting, please use the information below: 

710 Task Force – Meeting #2 

Monday, November 8, 2021  

5:00-7:30 pm 

Visit https://tinyurl.com/710TaskForce-Mtg2 to register to attend. 

Meeting ID: 977 2591 9775 

Passcode: 5851 

English Call-in: (669) 900-6833 

Llamada en español: (646) 749-3335 

Código de acceso: 956-350-013 

Some quick background for those new to task force:

The I-710 Corridor Project was originally conceived as a way to improve traffic safety, modernize the freeway design and accommodate growth in traffic and goods movement — particularly from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This section of freeway was built in the 1950s and ‘60s and stretches 19 miles from the ports through 16 cities and communities to East Los Angeles.

The project was halted in March 2021 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signaled that the project wouldn’t meet federal air quality conformity standards. In approving the project in 2018, the Metro Board prioritized local interchange and arterial road upgrades, new pedestrian and bike crossings and more funds for near-zero and zero emission trucks — while also holding off a decision on potentially widening the freeway that would displace residents and businesses in adjacent communities.

In response to the EPA’s decision and these displacement concerns, the Metro Board in May 2021 directed Metro to suspend work on the environmental process and re-engage community members and local stakeholders. The Task Force is expected to provide a report of its feedback and findings to the Metro Board of Directors and State of California by April 2022.