Three cities ready to receive a portion of almost $1 billion in lieu of a north 710 Freeway extension are unhappy with the process, want more cooperation from Metro and are concerned their suggestions are being ignored.

A letter signed by the city managers of Alhambra, Pasadena and South Pasadena to the Los Angels County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board accuses its staff of only accepting projects that enhance the movement of automobiles, namely adding lanes to regional thoroughfares in an area between El Sereno and Pasadena, from Valley Boulevard to the 210 Freeway just west of Fremont and Pasadena avenues.

Metro taking ‘cars only’ approach

While the Metro board motion in May 2017 that denied the freeway extension via a 6.3-mile tunnel called for many types of street improvements and traffic management options, the three cities take issue with a fact sheet used by Metro’s Highway Division used for prioritizing projects for funding.

“The fact sheet indicates that projects will only be deemed eligible if they enhance vehicular capacity. There is no consideration for active transportation or safety components, which seems contrary to the Metro Board Motion,” the letter states.

By sticking to a cars-only philosophy, it will only add more congestion, they wrote. The letter quotes Caltrans, which said: “Numerous studies have examined the effectiveness of this approach and consistently show that adding capacity to roadways fails to alleviate congestion for long because it actually increases vehicle miles traveled.”

Bill Sherman, a member of the South Pasadena Freeway and Transportation Commission and the No on 710 Action Committee, put it simply:

“We don’t want more cars on the road; we want to get cars off the roads.”

What about mass transit?

In December, Metro awarded $515 million for 34 specific local roadway projects. These include: removal of the southern 710 stub at Valley Boulevard in Alhambra; construction of a train overpass at California Boulevard in Pasadena; and building three parking structures in Monterey Park that will free up lanes on major roadways.

Seven cities plus Los Angeles County are once again competing for 710 North Mobility Project dollars as part of Phase II. The board is expected to decide on the project list in June. Board members made promises last year to include mass transit and active transportation (biking, walking) in the second round.

“We’ve heard … Metro staff is focusing on moving more vehicles faster. We find that to be problematic,” said Wes Reutimann, special programs director for Active SGV, formerly Bike SGV. “We don’t have to be spending a billion dollars on one mode of transport. We need it more balanced.”

Reutimann said Metro rejected about $400 million mass transit and active transportation projects submitted in Phase I. These include a bus rapid transit plan and improved bus service on Valley Boulevard.

Cities ask for open process

The three cities want Metro to provide a more transparent evaluation criteria. They are also asking to foster cross-pollination of project ideas through creation of a SR-710 Mobility Working Group. This would consist of the 10 local cities, nonprofits and Metro.

“We want to be involved in the decision-making. We, the public,” Sherman said.

Some projects may affect neighboring cities, strengthening the case they should work together, he said.

For example, Pasadena’s list of Phase II projects include a new traffic signal on Fair Oaks Avenue at Bellevue Drive and changes to the 210 off-ramp to allow traffic to flow eastbound on California Avenue and southbound on Fair Oaks.

“If they (Pasadena) add traffic onto California and Fair Oaks, that does impact us (in South Pasadena),” Sherman said.

Approved Projects (Phase I)