Almost $1 BILLION in Measure R funding originally set aside for the 710-N freeway tunnel is being made available to cities along the proposed freeway corridor, following a Metro Los Angeles Board of Directors motion that took the 710 freeway tunnel alternative off the table.

How will the money be spent? That is still very much to be determined. The board's motion directed that funding set aside for the 710-N be redirected as follows:

• $105 million for “Transportation Systems Management / Transportation Demand  Management (TSM/TDM)” projects
• $900+ million in remaining funding for to-be-determined local transportation improvements

What does this mean in layman's terms? Basically, cities can pitch two types of project ideas to Metro:

• Projects to increase automobile traffic throughput (e.g., signal optimization, turn lanes, wider streets)
• Projects to reduce driving or replace car trips (e.g., increased/improved transit service, new bicycle facilities, alternative travel incentives)

To kick off this process, Metro has asked each project area community to draft and submit an 'Early Action Project' list by the end of 2017, with very little specific guidance other than that projects should help relieve congestion along the corridor. This means the approaches taken by the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and others could be as different as their local leadership and historical approaches to transportation planning. Anyone who has driven a car, ridden a bike, or walked across these communities is keenly aware of the different approaches each of these communities has taken to street design, with 4-lane arterials with no permitted street parking transitioning to 2-lane, tree-lined thoroughfares with curb parking at City borders.

How initial project lists are to be developed was also not spelled out by the Metro Board. Some communities, like the City of South Pasadena, have hosted special public meetings to solicit community input in the process. In others, it appears project wish lists are being drafted internally. 

South Pasadena

The City of South Pasadena's draft 'wish list' to Metro is scheduled to be discussed at a special City Council meeting Tuesday, November 21st at 7 PM. At the moment the project list, drafted by Nelson/Nygaard calls for a number of bi items, including:

• New 'hook ramp' to the 110 freeway at Fair Oaks Ave ($38 million) and associated changes, including bulb-out along parts of Fair Oaks Ave.
• 'Adaptive Traffic Control System' for Fremont Avenue/Huntington Drive/Fair Oaks corridors - Signal synchronization, bulb-out removal, right-turn pockets, Class II bike lanes from Monterey Rd. to Huntington Drive and related changes to increase vehicle throughput ($10-20 million)
• Study of a potential micro-transit circulator pilot project
• Study of grade separations for Gold Line at key crossings (in conjunction with Pasadena)

In general, South Pasadena's 'wish list' falls surprisingly heavy on the increasing automobile throughput rather than the reducing automobile trips side of the equation. Considering the fact that over 30% of trips in southern California are less than 3 miles in distance, BikeSGV finds that this approach would be a missed opportunity that doesn't mesh with the City's ongoing General Plan update, which seeks to balance facilitating vehicle access with supporting more sustainable, alternative modes of transportation. For example, the City's General Plan update has produced renderings of a more multi-modal Fair Oaks Avenue that would include parking- or planter-protected bicycle lanes and no loss of automobile travel lanes (see image below).

The City of Pasadena has begun public discussion and formal consideration of potential 'Early Action' projects, also with the assistance of Nelson/Nygaard consultants. At the City's October Transportation Advisory Commission meeting, commissioners and staff discussed local project options, including the following potential 'wish list' items:

• Grade Separate the Gold Line (tunnels) at California, Del Mar, and Glenarm
• Launch a Pasadena Street Car
• Extend the Arroyo Seco Bike Path from the Rose Bowl to the L.A. River
• Modify the 710 'stubs'
• Expand the City's Metro Bike Share system

Alhambra, Monterey Park, and San Marino

The Cities of Alhambra, Monterey Park, and San Marino have not hosted a public meeting regarding the development of their respective City 'wish lists.' 

Get Involved

It's not every day that $1 billion is made available for local transportation projects. Local streets are one of our community’s greatest yet most overlooked public assets. When designed well, city streets can support small businesses, improve air quality, encourage physical activity, reduce the number and severity of traffic collisions, capture stormwater, and better prepare our community for the impacts of climate change.

BikeSGV strongly encourages SGV residents (especially those who live in the project corridor cities of South Pasadena, Pasadena, Alhambra, and Monterey Park) to engage in this historic process. Whether it be emailing your elected officials, attending a public meeting, or spreading the word at opportune moments, YOU can make a difference.

Stay informed about upcoming opportunities to weigh in. Please let us know how you would like to see this transportation funding repurposed in the comments or by contacting us via email or phone. We'd love to hear your thoughts!