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Caltrans to Hold Public Hearing on 710 Corridor Property Sales
News Sep 14, 2017
Actresses Gina Torres. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
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The most recent 710 extension alternative, a five-mile tunnel projected to cost up to $5 billion, was unanimously rejected by the Metro board in May. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
By Gus Herrera
The State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) recently announced that it will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 19, regarding the sale of “surplus” properties along the SR-710 corridor.
Caltrans first revealed that they would begin the process of selling the properties in late 2016. The sales are expected to be carried out in three phases, as Caltrans explores alternative options for filling the gap along the 710 corridor. Properties will be deemed “surplus” or “excess” as their locations are eliminated from potential construction plans. Homes will not hit the open market immediately – the Roberti Bill (AB 113) requires that low and moderate-income tenants receive first priority to purchase, followed by affordable sales programs and housing-related entities.
Phase 1 of the sales, which began in 2016 and is expected to conclude by the end of this year, included only 42 of the 460 parcels originally purchased by Caltrans in a massive landgrab that traces its roots back to the early 20th century.
According to a statement drafted by the West Pasadena Residents’ Association in response to the SR-710 North Study Environmental Impact Report, the California Department of Highways (which would later evolve into Caltrans) identified a freeway gap between Long Beach and Monterey Park as early as the 1930s. Over the years, the gap was extended to South Pasadena and eventually the I-210 Freeway – resulting in the corridor we know today.
The original plan was to construct a surface freeway extension that would connect the 710 Freeway in Alhambra, to the I-210 in Pasadena. So, between 1950 and 1978, Caltrans began purchasing hundreds of properties, with the intent to demolish the homes.
Fast forward several decades later and Caltrans has seen plan after plan for closing the gap go down in flames.
The most recent alternative to fail was a proposed underground tunnel that was unanimously rejected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) board this past May.
Instead of the five-mile-long project, which was expected to cost anywhere $3.2 billion and $5 billion, the Metro board decided to allocate $105 million from Measure R funds towards infrastructure improvements meant to alleviate traffic along the corridor’s surface streets.
Upgrades will include synchronized traffic signals, new meters on freeway ramps, capacity enhancements at several intersections, and even incentives to encourage carpooling.
Thus, with no major construction in sight for the 710 corridor, some are questioning why more of the properties have not been deemed “surplus” and tagged for sale.
During the public comment portion of the July 17 Pasadena City Council meeting, attorney Christopher Sutton urged the city to take a more proactive approach, as many houses along the corridor have fallen into disrepair.
Sutton, who represents several current 710 corridor tenants, cited a “gentleman’s agreement” between Pasadena and Caltrans that exempts the properties from various city inspections and certification requirements. As a result, the unattended homes have become “fire traps” and attract homeless individuals and drug dealers, according to Sutton.
But not all are opposed to closing the gap, in one way or another – the 710 Coalition (which includes the cities of Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, and various construction unions) recently challenged the Metro board’s decision to axe the tunnel alternative.
Additionally, the daily congestion along the gap is taking a heavy toll on its surrounding environment and local residents. According to Metro’s website, three of the top ten afternoon bottlenecks within LA and Ventura Counties are located within the 710 corridor and cost taxpayers $21 million annually. The traffic also produces approximately 5,000 tons per year in carbon dioxide emissions and, without any changes, the situation will continue to worsen as traffic demands increase.
The Caltrans public hearing will be held on Sept. 19 at the South Pasadena Public Library (1100 Oxley Street), from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Public speakers will be heard and anyone interested in submitting written comments regarding the proposed regulations can do so electronically (email: Affordable_Sales_Program@dot.ca.gov) or via mail (California Department of Transportation, 1120 N St., MS 37, Sacramento, CA 95814; attention: Carolyn Dabney – affordable sales program). Caltrans will be accepting written comments until 5 p.m. on Sept. 19.
For more information regarding the 710 surplus property sales, click here or call (213) 897-8184.
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