CC - Item 3 C - Metropolitan Transportation Authoritystaf epor
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
FROM: FRANK G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER
DATE: NOVEMBER 28, 2000
RE: RESOLUTION NO. 2000-62 - REQUESTING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY INCLUDE THE 710
FREEWAY COMPLETION IN THE 2000 LONG RANGE TRANSPORATION PLAN
UPDATE
Recently, the City of Monterey Park sent correspondence to neighboring communities as part of the
continuing effort to secure completion of the 710 Freeway. Monterey Park is asking the City Council
to adopt the attached resolution that requests the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) include the 710 Freeway completion as a project in the 2000 Long Range
Transportation Plan (LRTP).
As MTA staff recently issued a draft LRTP that excluded the 710 Freeway project due to pending
litigation, Monterey Park is asking other communities to join them in,adopting a resolution that
requests the MTA Board to place the project on the county's transportation plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2000-62.
2000
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-62
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROSEMEAD TO REQUEST THAT LACMTA
INCLUDE THE 710 FREEWAY COMPLETION IN THE
2000 LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE
WHEREAS, Southern California has been waiting since 1965 for the completion of the 4.5 mile
gap of the 710 Freeway between the 10 (San Bernardino) and 210 (Foothill) freeways;
and
WHEREAS,. the disruption. of the highway system debilitates and endangers residential
neighborhoods that were not designed for the 100,000 vehicles that fan out into the
local streets; and
WHEREAS, the 710 Freeway Completion will reduce 4.8 tons of pollutants each day, 7,000 gallons
of fuel each day, 232,000 vehicle miles traveled each dav, and 120,700 hours of travel
each day; and
WHEREAS, a study conducted by the Rose Institute of the Claremont Colleges in July 2000 found
that residents of the San Gabriel Valley favor completion of the 710 Freeway by 63%
to 11%; and
WHEREAS, nearly 20 cities in Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Valley Council of
Governments that represents 39 cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Economic
Partnership have all gone on record to support the 710 Freeway Completion; and
WHEREAS, on April 13, 1998 the Secretary of Transportation committed the Federal
Government to complete the 710 Freeway; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has approved and adopted the
Meridian Variation Route as the 710 Freeway completion after exploring more than
20 alternative routes in over 33 years; and
WHEREAS, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has determined that the
gap closure is critical to relieve the congested corridor and to reduce travel times, and
as such, has included the 710 Freeway Completion in the 1998 Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) and the 2001 Update; and
WHEREAS, opponents of the 710 Freeway Completion have vowed to continue lawsuits and fight
the progress of the gap closure; and
WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has deferred
the consideration of the 710 Gap Closure - Freeway Completion - for inclusion in the
2000 Long Range Transportation Plan because of unresolved legal issues; and
WHEREAS, LACMTA needs to be consistent in recognizing projects that have been approved by
the federal, state and regional governments despite threats of litigation that are
common of any regionally significant project; and
WHEREAS, LACMTA needs to commit to transportation projects that are critical for the
mobility of the Los Angeles County.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE, DECLARE AND DETERMINE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. To request that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) include the 710 Freeway Completion - Gap Closure - in the 2000 Long Range
Transportation Plan_(LRTP).
SECTION 2. To request that the MTA support the regionally significant project
through project development and fund allocation.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 28`x' day of November, 2000.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
l
CITY. OF /MONTEREY PARK
320 west newmark avenue • monterey park, ca 91 7 5 4-289 6
• municipal services center
November 6, 2000
The Honorable Margaret F. Clark
Mayor
City of Rosemead
8838 E. Valley Blvd.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Re: 710 Freeway Completion Resolution
Dear Mayor Clark:
The City of Monterey Park has adopted a resolution to request the Los -Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to include the 710 Freeway Completion in the
2000 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and are asking cities to do the same. MTA has
recently released a draft list of LRTP projects and has excluded the 710 project because of
pending litigation. MTA staff notes that they will work with, Caltrans to-monitor the project and
await the outcome of the lawsuit.
MTA staffs recommendation is unfounded given that the 710 completion has been approved by
the federal government and adopted by Caltrans. In addition, the gap closure is included in the
Southern California Association of Government (SCAG) 1998 Regional Transportation Plan and
proposed for the 2001 Update.
As we all know, the 710 Freeway Project has been in litigation since its inception. To defer the
programming of this project until all legal matters. have been resolved is infeasible, and a
dangerous precedent to set for the adoption of future transportation projects. We are asking
cities to adopt a similar resolution to request that the MTA Board place the 710 completion in the
county's transportation plan.
We would appreciate a copy of your adopted resolution. Please contact Amy Ho at (626) 307-
1260 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Benjamin "Frank" Venti
Mayor
Attachment - Resolution
ah-6091.doc