By Nicole Ramirez
McIntyre in the Morning
Supporters of the 710 freeway extension aren’t done fighting for the tunnel.
On Monday, April 13th, the Pasadena City Council unanimously voted against the extension despite support from 58% of Pasadena voters to extend the 710 freeway by 4.5 miles from Valley Boulevard in Alhambra to the I-210/134 freeway interchange in Pasadena. City Councilman Steve Madison said, “let them sue us we’re so right on this.”
Alhambra city councilman and 710 Commissioner Steve Placido, tells McIntyre in the Morning, 67% of LA County residents want this freeway completed.
“46,000 cars a day try to get from north to south without stopping between the 10 and the 210,” he said. “All that traffic belongs on our freeway not on our city streets.”
Residents that live a long the proposed extension have expressed concern over the air quality. If two 50 foot towers were built, it would ventilate the carbon monoxide coming out of vehicles traveling through the tunnels into the air around neighborhoods.
“Pasadena doesn’t want it because of a vent and a smoke stack,” said Placido. “Well we’re gonna have that too, but the stuff that’s coming out is gonna be better than what’s going on now for the region.”
Placido said it’s never a good idea for an elected official to completely ignore the voters or they might not find themselves re-elected.