Click here for a full copy of the 710 Freeway Technical Feasibility Assessment Report.
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City of Alhambra
Resolution No. R2M6-35
Resolution of Support for the
710 Tunnel Technical Feasibility Assessment
(Approved October 23, 2006)

WHEREAS, the City of Alhambra strongly supports the expansion and improvement of the Southern California transportation network, which despite important improvements, remains overwhelmed by the majority of regional trips; and,

WHEREAS,  the Interstate 710 Freeway serves as a major north-south link in the Los Angeles County transportation network; and,

WHEREAS,  all regional transportation agencies have identified the 710 Freeway Gap Closure Project north of Interstate 10 as a critical missing link in the basic Southern California highway network that would deliver nationally and regionally significant highway and arterial street congestion relief and enhance air quality; and,

WHEREAS, the failure to close the 710 gap, which terminates at Valley Boulevard, thereby dumping traffic onto Alhambra's streets, continues to endanger the lives and safety of Alhambra's residents, congests our streets, adversely impacts our schools, poses a very real threat to the health, safety, and welfare of our residents, especially the children, the ill, and our seniors, and negatively affects our  property values; and

WHEREAS,  over the past 40 years alternatives have been proposed and evaluated to complete the 710 Freeway and close the 4.5 mile gap in the corridor; and,

WHEREAS, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have taken the initiative to conduct a technical assessment to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a tunnel to complete the 710 Freeway between Valley Boulevard (Alhambra) and Del Mar Boulevard (Pasadena); and,

WHEREAS, such 710 Tunnel Technical Feasibility Assessment Report has determined the tunnel concept is technically viable and merits a comprehensive study that will advance the construction of the 710 tunnel project;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Alhambra City Council that the CITY OF ALHAMBRA hereby STRONGLY SUPPORTS

1. The closure of the Interstate 710 Freeway;
2. The findings of the 710 Tunnel Technical Feasibility Assessment Report prepared by Parsons, Brinckerhoff and sponsored by MTA and Caltrans; and,
3. The efforts of MTA and Caltrans to advance to the next stage of the tunnel assessment to further validate its findings and pursue the completion of the 710 Freeway, which stage includes preparing a supplemental amendment to the 710 gap closure environmental impact report that adds the tunnel as a physically and environmentally feasible alternative; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Alhambra City Council that this Council hereby directs the City Clerk to certify the adoption of this Resolution and to send copies thereof to our Federal and State Legislators, MTA, Caltrans, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SCGCOG) and the cities of Los Angeles, South Pasadena, San Marino, Pasadena, and Monterey Park.

SIGNED AND APPROVED this 23rd day of October, 2006

                                                                                         MARK R. PAULSON, Mayor

ATTEST:

FRANCES A. MOORE, City Clerk

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted by the Alhambra City Council at its regular meeting held on the 23rd day of October, 2006...

                                                                                        FRANCES A. MOORE, City Clerk

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The 710 Freeway Tunnel Technical Feasibility Assessment was "intended to ascertain whether the tunnel concept is physically, environmentally and financially viable, as well as whether resulting in congestion relief, and worthy of more comprehensive evaluation and technical consideration." And the answers, contained in a 181-page report, are available by clicking on link provided at the top of this page. Briefly, the summary points of conclusion, on page 181, state:

• ...Traffic analysis indicates that four lanes would be required in each direction, with or without trucks.
• ...The possibility of an interchange at Huntington Drive would further attract traffic in the gap and on Huntington Drive itself.
• Traffic modeling reveals that generally, completing the Route 710 freeway would benefit and relieve traffic impacts on some adjacent freeways and arterials in proximity to the study area.
• Geologic conditions appear favorable to constructing a tunnel solution.
• Feasible tunnel configurations within current technology are possible.
• Identified environmental issues associated with construction and operation of the main tunnel are initially assessed to be solvable, However, more issues exist in the event that an interchange at Huntington Drive is included.
• Construction cost estimates of $3 bilion make this a major infrastructure improvement which would require special funding initiatives.
• The preliminary technical findings indicate that a tunnel is a viable solution and warrants to be advanced to the next more comprehensive and detailed evaluations.