Two public hearings, this Saturday and next Tuesday, are the public's best opportunity to have a say in whether the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority builds a tunnel, a light rail line, a busway, and/or makes street level traffic changes to ease congestion, to close the gap between the end of the 710 Freeway in Alhambra and the 210 Freeway in Pasadena.

Doing nothing is also a somewhat unlikely alternative because Metro has $780 million in hand, through the Measure R half-cent sales tax, to do such a project.

And, the California Department of Transportation, commissioned by the Los Angeles County Metro, has already published a massive study on the environmental impact examining the alternatives proposed to speed traffic through the West San Gabriel Valley, which is very often a step towards taking action.

Before Metro decides what to do, the public has a right to ask questions and share its concerns during a public comment period that ends July 6. By law, Metro must respond in writing at a later date to all the questions that are submitted during public testimony.

How do I participate?

Attend one of Metro's public hearings and voice your questions and concerns about the different proposed alternatives. Metro will not be required to respond to you if you say whether you want one alternative over another. But it will be required by law to answer substantive questions about how the project would affect your life, business, commute, kids and so on.

What if I don't want to speak in public?

No problem, the hearings will have an official transcriber to take your question one-on-one.

When and where

Each hearing begins with an hour for the public to walk around and view maps showing where the tunnel would be, the proposed route of a light rail line, and where a dedicated bus would service. The maps also show several streets where traffic lights and special lanes for buses might be added.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

East Los Angeles College

Rosco Ingalls Auditorium

1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez

Monterey Park, CA 91754

Map Viewing 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Public Hearing 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Pasadena Convention Center

300 East Green Street

Pasadena, CA 91101

Map Viewing 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Public Hearing 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

I can't go, how else can I participate?

Send questions and concerns by mail to:

Garrett Damrath

Caltrans District 7

Division of Environmental Planning

100 S. Main St.MS-16

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Or send them online through the Caltrans public comment website

Additional hearings will be held in May.