710 Alternatives Include 2 Garvanza Routes

A pair of proposed freeways that would run through the neighborhood of Garvanza are still on the table as Metro and Caltrans look to narrow down their list of proposed SR-710 Freeway extension projects.

Metro will host a Community Liaison Council Meeting on Monday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. at on 4580 N. Figueroa St. to gather further community feedback about the proposed 710 extension alternatives. It will be one of the final community meetings held by Metro before the public comment period closes on Wednesday, August 29. 

Metro has been fighting for decades to extend SR-710 beyond its northern terminus in Alhambra to SR-210 in Pasadena--in an effort to alleviate commercial traffic from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles--but has been met by strong community opposition from residents of South Pasadena.

After conducting an extensive series of community meetings throughout the spring of 2011, Metro defined an approximately 110-square mile study area, which included 12 traffic mitigating "alternative concepts." Those 12 alternatives will be narrowed down to five following the conclusion of the public comment period, and will be studied during a two-year Environmental Impact Report (EIR) phase.

Among the 12 alternatives--which include "no build" and light rail/bus rail projects--are two freeway extensions that would run directly through the heart of Garvanza.

Alternative F5 would connect to SR-134 at a new interchange created near the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Avenue 64. According to maps provided by Metro, the bulk of the route would run beneath the neighborhood of Garvanza.

A proposed above ground route, Alternative H2, would connect to SR-134 in the north by way of Avenue 64.

Tina Gulotta-Miller of the Garvanza Improvement Association said she is strongly opposed to the construction of any freeway extension through Garvanza.

In addition to the potential disruption of the historic neighborhood's character due to a massive construction project, she feared that even the potential for building in the area would deter new families from moving to the neighborhood.

"This is a major concern to our community, [if we were to land on the short list of potential projects]," Gulotta-Miller said. "Anyone who looks to buy property in Garvanza would be subject to a disclosure by a real estate agent that these projects might be built. That's a mandated blight on our community, and it would stop a lot of the momentum we've built up."

Gulotta-Miller, who is also a member of the , has placed a discussion item on about the proposed SR-710 extension options.