Fantasyland or Freeway? 710 Traffic Is Wrecking Pasadena

Three years ago, Caltrans handed over more than 50 acres of approved freeway land to the city of Pasadena. Now, the city wants to cover and fill the entire 710 Freeway Stub, embark on a costly redevelopment, and reroute over 50,000 cars per day onto the streets of Pasadena.

The land transfer was hailed as a historic win by those who spent years resisting the freeway extension slicing through West Pasadena and nearby communities. However, shutting down the freeway extension and returning the property to the city is not a win.

The Traffic Crisis is Real

We all feel it. Traffic is worse than ever and continues to worsen. So is the noise pollution. Commutes are longer, and neighborhood streets are jammed. Now, there are formal city proposals that could close off or limit some of the existing roads and freeway access points running through the 710 Stub. If that’s true, where does all that traffic go?

People Who Live Here Know

Traffic will be pushed onto already overwhelmed streets such as Orange Grove, Fair Oaks, Arroyo Parkway, and Los Robles, many of which are already at or over capacity.

This isn’t just inconvenient; it’s dangerous. The congestion will hinder vehicles, including ambulances, from reaching Huntington Hospital. Not only is the direct route through the 710 corridor disappearing, but other key north-south access points will be congested with spillover traffic. Reaching the hospital in time could become a significant challenge.

Pasadena isn’t the Only One Feeling the Impact

Surrounding communities are bracing themselves. South Pasadena has long opposed the 710 extension project, but its leaders have been sounding the alarm about the consequences of rerouted traffic for years now. Escalating traffic accidents, bicyclists and pedestrians have been hit or killed, and big rigs using Fremont Avenue to crisscross the 10 freeway to the 134 is now the norm.

Alhambra has long supported the 710 freeway project, hoping it would reduce traffic on its local streets. But since the city halted the extension, those traffic concerns have become a reality. Now, Alhambra is more anxious than ever that Pasadena’s next move could send even more cars their way.

The message from folks all along the 710 corridors could not be clearer: Please don’t make things worse with the 710 Stub project! This land should help fix traffic, not create new headaches and bottlenecks.

A Plan in Progress with Inaccuracy and Historical Gaps

Pasadena city leaders, along with architectural firm Perkins Eastman, are working on a long-term master plan. Historical research has been conducted, community advisory groups have met, and a draft plan is expected by the end of the year. Traffic mitigation should be the priority, but it is not.

In mid-April, the City’s Reconnecting Pasadena 710 Advisory Group got an update from the newly formed Restorative Justice Standing Committee. They unveiled a 38 minute documentary which had interviews with people whose families had homes bought in the eminent domain seizures tied to the 710 Freeway.

Even the consultants hired by the city admit it’s been tough to find such families. There’s little to no concrete data about who lived there or what exactly was legally obtained by CalTrans between 1968 and 1971. Many businesses and rail lines dotted this area during that time period, and they were fairly and legally compensated for their property at that time.

Who Pays and Who Pays the Price?

There’s also the financial elephant in the room: transforming the 710 Stub into a livable, sustainable space will cost hundreds of millions and that’s on top of any restitution awards.

Which is why it was surprising to see, buried at the end of the documentary, a set of renderings no one bothered to address directly. They plan to build an outdoor mall under the freeway? Is that even realistic let alone safe? Will it compete with businesses in nearby Old Town?

And what about the parks and swimming pools at the base of the freeway? Are we really supposed to believe Pasadena residents will want to work out, swim, or stroll right beneath the 134 and 210? Is that actually safe or even healthy? For years we’ve been told living and recreation next to Southern California freeways increases the risk of mulitple health conditions.

There’s even an option on the table for a manmade lake right through the heart of Pasadena. How many years (and lawsuits) will that take? And how long before the battles with environmentalists over water use kick into full gear?

What about Firestorm Recovery Impact?

Keep in mind, nearby Altadena is starting the long recovery process from the devastating wildfires. Which community will get priority for construction materials, crews and public funds? If we don’t ask the hard questions now, we’ll pay for it later in traffic, in safety, and in real dollars.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Pasadena has a rare chance to do something truly transformative but it has to be grounded in both vision and reality.

💫That means facing the traffic problems head-on, listening to the growing number of residents raising concerns, and being honest about how much this is all going to cost.

💫Most importantly, it means not getting so caught up in big, shiny plans that we lose sight of the people who actually live here right now.

🚨If you want the City Council to hit pause before rushing into a decision, now’s the time to speak up. Contact the mayor or your councilmember, here’s how to do it quickly: 

📬 Mayor Victor Gordo — [email protected]
📬 Tyron Hampton (District 1) — [email protected]
📬 Rick Cole (District 2) — [email protected]
📬 Justin Jones (District 3) — [email protected]
📬 Gene Masuda (District 4) — [email protected]
📬 Jess Rivas (District 5) — [email protected]
📬 Steve Madison (District 6) — [email protected]
📬 Jason Lyon (District 7) — [email protected]

We Want to Hear From You

• Do you believe traffic should continue through the 710 property?

• Do you believe Pasadena has tried to reach citizens for their opinions?

• Do you trust the process Pasadena has followed?

• Please indicate your interest in attending a coffee gathering/wine party to hear more information.

   

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