Politics & Government
Local Architects Discuss Alternative Freight Movement Proposal, Metro Organizes 710 Meetings
An group of architects and local residents discusses freight rail line, zero-emissions port facility and sustainable urban developments. Metro launches a series of community meetings concerning the 710 freeway gap.
Members of the Pasadena & Foothill chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and area residents packed a meeting about 710 alternatives on Friday. The presentation featured David Alba, Gabriel River Infrastructure Development project designer, who discussed his comprehensive port modernization, electric rail freight movement, and urban design concept (covered in ) .
Alba's proposal could be seen as an alternative to proponents' push for a freight corridor via the proposed 710 tunnel, and the architects heard it just a few days after Metro announced another series of community meetings focused on the 710.
Alba says his proposal will create thousands of jobs, sustainable urban infrastructure for under-served communities, and a state-of-the-art container transfer system operating three times faster than newer facilities on the other side of the Pacific.
Find out what's happening in South Pasadenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
South Pasadena resident Odom Stamps, who is a former mayor and No on 710 Action Committee member, responded to a question from the audience about his community's level of interest in larger regional issues. Stamps said, "South Pasadena is vitally interested in this. We embraced the Gold Line, and this is compatible with the kind of development we want to encourage for the region's underserved communities."
Last week, Metro announced a three-part series of "710 Conversations" to engage in community dialogue about the 710 gap closure issue as Metro proceeds with the scoping process, scheduled for completion in April 2011.
Find out what's happening in South Pasadenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"We are beginning with a fresh perspective to initiate an environmental review process that will focus on a range of solutions to specifically evaluate the effects of the SR 710 gap," Metro stated on its website.
El Sereno resident Tom Williams, who has fought against the 710 freeway for years, said he plans on attending all meetings. Williams also questioned why a community with no direct route impact like Glendale was included in the meetings while Monterey Park was not.
The scheduled meetings in six communities begin Tuesday evening in San Gabriel, and continue in Alhambra, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Glendale. The South Pasadena meetings will take place on Wednesday, February 23, and Wednesday, March 9, from 6-8 p.m. at .
Here's a list of meetings this week:
Tuesday, February 15, 6-8 p.m.
Jefferson Middle School
1372 E. Las Tunas Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Wednesday, February 16, 6-8 p.m.
Alhambra Civic Center Library
101 S. First St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
Saturday, February 19, 2-4 p.m.
Lake Avenue Church
393 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Click here for the complete schedule of Metro meetings.
Editor's Note: South Pasadena Patch has corrected the title of Odom Stamps. He is a South Pasadena resident and former mayor of South Pasadena. Also, the meeting included area residents who are not professional members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
