Feeling outnumbered on the 710

The Times' Jean Guccione reports that the MTA meeting, in which officials approved the study of the 710 tunnel, was was heavily stacked with proponents. Cities around the route -- Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Marino, El Monte etc. -- have taken a united front to push the tunnel, arguing they now get the traffic and pollution when the 710 suddenly ends at Valley Boulevard (ever tried getting Dim Sum on the weekend and you'll see the gridlock). This seems to have South Pasadena forces feeling a little outnumbered:

"It's like South Pasadena advocating putting a toxic waste dump in all these other cities," said resident Joanne Nuckols, a longtime anti-710 activist.

Comments

[greg kay]

How many billions will be spent on an over-engineered "solution" to a foothill community feud?

Spend it on rail transit.

[Jim Thomas]

I grew up in the Alhambra neighborhood messed up by the freeway ending at Valley blvd.

That South Pasadena councilwoman who says it is as if South Pasadena has proposed putting a toxic waste dump in Alhambra, is actually quite right.

All those idling cars in gridlock spewing fumes, all the wasted time, just so S.P. can be free of a freeway has hurt its neighboring cities a lot.

So they managed to stop the normal freeway, I think it is fabulous that a tunnel is being proposed. I hope it goes through. Then maybe Alhambra can have its streets back.

Valley Blvd and Fremont Avenue would really bounce back.

[Royce D. Kirkland]

South Pasadena is trying to maintain it's business base. That town will dry up when the tunnel is complete. Residents of south pas don't spend there money in that town. As long as there is no extention, they have a steady stream of new customers daily, even if they are just passing thru. Traffic will not improve in Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel or Rosemead until the freeway is built!!!!! There comes a time when the overall good of the community needs to be addressed.That time has NOW come.