A poorly publicized and sparsely attended meeting for the SR-710 environmental impact report and alternatives analysis took place April 16 for La Crescenta, Montrose, Burbank, and Glendale. This was the second of a series of “Community Liaison Committee” (CLC) meetings scheduled in April. Metro’s aim is to have area locals, who have signed up to represent their respective area(s), at each meeting.
(This Glendale News-Press feature discusses an upcoming April 30 CLC meeting at La Canada High School). The CLC meetings are separate from a series of Open Houses on the SR-710 EIR, which have just been announced.
Another group, the SR-710 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), composed of technical consultants actually conducting the EIR, city representatives, elected officials’ staff representatives, and various managers from agencies such as the Southern California Air Quality Management District, has been meeting regularly since January and discussing project alternatives. Citizens who signed up as community liaisons haven’t been asked to propose, select or reject alternatives alongside the TAC; at the April 16 meeting, those who came as community liaisons were informed about selections already made.
CLC participants received a Study Description and map, a CLC Roles & Responsibilities sheet, a Project Timeline, a list of future CLC meetings and Open Houses, and a portion of the SR-710 Scoping Summary Report, Volume 1, with Executive Summary and chart of comments (which No 710 Action Committee members stated were inaccurate).
A participant’s report from the meeting:
Mary McCormick, EIR outreach consultant and CLC meeting facilitator, said the study area was 210 square miles, one of the largest she has seen. A group representing the No 710 Action Committee suggested that the study area be expanded to at least Sylmar/Pacoima since those cities would also be affected by increased traffic from the project. No one from Burbank was present, and the study area doesn’t currently include that city (although its northern arterials could be affected by increased traffic on the 210).
Only two CLC meetings are planned in each community (the second in the middle of the summer!) and two series of Open Houses (schedule below).
The Open House format will be information stations with the “technical team” available to answer questions about alternatives. Anyone can attend any or all of the Open Houses. There will be no formal public comments but comment/question forms will be available.
McCormick stated that all alternatives are still on the table and that CH2MHILL and the technical team had come up with the recommendations presented. These included only the “no build” option, four freeway options, one rail alternative (Meridian route), 2 bus routes, and 2 arterial improvements. She explained that the team had taken the information directly from the Scoping Summary comments and narrowed down the choices for various reasons.
Those present asked for clarity on the Purpose & Needs of the project and the ultimate decision maker(s). The number of trucks that would use an expanded South 710, extended North 710, and a High Desert Corridor is unknown and highly debatable. Increased congestion and pollution in foothill communities is a big concern for residents, but no mitigation plans were presented.
Work is rapidly proceeding on the SR-710 EIR study, which includes study of a huge tunnel extension of the 710 to the 210, and residents need to speak up for safer, less expensive, and more sustainable approaches to 21st century goods movement and transportation planning in Southern California.
Open House Schedule (which does not yet appear to be on Metro’s SR-710 webpage):
May 8, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
El Monte Community Center – 3130 Tyler Ave.
May 9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
La Canada High School, Info Resource Center – 4463 Oak Grove Dr.
May 10, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Alhambra Auditorium, Ratkovich Company – 1000 South Fremont Ave, Unit 1, Building A-10, Center, Suite 10150, Alhambra
May 14, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
El Sereno Senior Center – 4818 Klamath Place, Los Angeles
May 16, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
South Pasadena Library – 1100 Oxley Street
May 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Eagle Rock Elementary – 2057 Fair Park Ave, Los Angeles
A Saturday date may be added.