Reminder: 710 Freeway Open House in Eagle Rock Thursday

The second of six public forums scheduled in Northeast L.A. and the San Gabriel Valley to discuss a set of alternatives to a 4.5-mile underground extension of the 710 freeway proposed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Caltrans will be held today, Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of

Opponents of the proposed extension argue that although there are many documented reasons for not extending the 710 any further into Los Angeles, Metro and Caltrans have already begun an Environmental Impact Report, the initial stages of which are the only chance for the public to formally register their opposition and hope that Northeast L.A. does not become what Eagle Rock resident and longtime anti-710 activist Nancy Campeau calls a “dirty truck transit route.”

“Caltrans-Metro has to show that they 'informed the public,’ and yet the public is unaware of the very existence of this threat to their property and lifestyle,” Campeau tells Patch, adding: “These open houses are one of the last-ditch opportunities for the public to react and weigh in on this project.”

Proponents of the 710 extension argue that the freeway is vital to relieving congestion and that “Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, San Marino, Alhambra, Boyle Heights, and all surrounding communities need to unite for the completion of the 710 though South Pasadena,” in the words of Patch reader Elijah H.

Here’s the rest of his comment:

“The 710 is being expanded to accommodate additional lanes of trucks, and those Northbound trucks will either end up 1) idling though the East LA Interchange, contributing to even worse air qualify throughout the region (specifically Boyle Heights / Lincoln Heights) or 2) taking surface streets through Alhambra to reach the 210 and continue North.

“Logic maintains that the 710 should be completed, it's the most obvious solution to the coming influx of freight traffic. Fairness dictates that the City of South Pasadena needs to stop this endless stonewalling, take their lumps, and allow the tunnel as planned through South Pasadena.”

Metro-Caltran’s consideration of alternatives to extending the 710 via a tunnel is expected to conclude in September or October 2012. Anyone interested in weighing in on those alternatives should attend Thursday’s open house in Eagle Rock—and/or other forums scheduled through Saturday. Click here for our previous story about the 710 open houses, which has a full list of venues.

Attendees are also encouraged to go on record with their questions and comments, which will be documented, by making a copy of the “Comment Card” they will be presented at the Open House. Alternatively, they can complete an online Comment/Question Form officially sanctioned by Metro-Caltrans.

“If you fill out this online form, please print it out before sending it,” Campeau urges Patch readers, adding that anti-710 activists such as her will be collecting these questions and comments in the not-too-distant future.

See the attached PDF for the documented efforts of activist groups as well as Neighborhood Councils to oppose any further extension of the 710 freeway into Los Angeles.