Caltrans and Metro Extend Public Comment Period for SR-710 North Study

Here is the news release from Caltrans and Metro:

To provide more time for study and community input, Caltrans and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today extended the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) on SR-710 North until August 5, 2015. In addition, Caltrans and Metro today released the Analysis of Costs and Benefits (CBA) for the SR-710 North study alternatives. The CBA can be read at http://media.metro.net/projects_studies/sr_710/images/attachmentb_sr710cbareport_2015-0619.pdf

The CBA was prepared in response to direction by the Metro Board. The motion directed the chief executive officer to conduct a parallel cost-benefit analysis concurrent with the Draft EIR/EIS. The CBA is a means of applying an economic value to alternatives, which enables the costs of an alternative to be compared directly to the benefits the alternative will deliver. The CBA will be considered in conjunction with the information provided in the Draft EIR/EIS during identification of the preferred alternative.

The Draft EIR/EIS is in the midst of public review that began March 6, 2015. An EIR is required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and an EIS fulfills requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The laws require government agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects. Information from public comments will be weighed before preparing the final environmental document.

Caltrans and Metro have conducted four public hearings since the opening of the comment period and a fifth hearing is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2015 at the David Wark Griffith Middle School located at 4765 East Fourth Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90022. Map viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. followed by a public hearing from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday’s hearing will be available as a live webcast that can be accessed in English at ustream.tv/channel/sr-710-study and in Spanish at ustream.tv/channel/sr-710-espanol

The five alternatives proposed in the Draft EIR/EIS are:

•No Build option that would leave conditions as they are

•A traffic management system to upgrade and synchronize signals and improvements to local street intersections to more quickly move traffic that exits the dead end freeway

•A rapid bus line featuring high frequency service with minimal stops and potentially a dedicated bus lane

•Light rail to carry passengers between East Los Angeles and Pasadena

•A freeway tunnel that would extend the SR-710

No decisions have been made on any proposed alternative in the Draft EIR/EIS.