Appalled was the adjective used again and again Tuesday night during an "on the record'' meeting for Metro Los Angeles' proposed extension of State Route 710.

Although representatives from Metro and the California Department of Transportation attended the meeting, they were not there with the intent to answer questions from the public, but rather to hear the residents' alternative ideas to building a tunnel. For decades, the two agencies have identified "the gap" between SR-210 in Alhambra and SR-710 in Pasadena as the source of major traffic congestion in the San Gabriel Valley and Northeast Los Angeles, and have endeavored to relieve that pressure by proposing to connect the two freeways with a multi-lane surface freeway or a miles-long underground tunnel.

Tuesday night's scoping meeting at La Cañada HIgh School recorded residents' comments and ideas for tunnel alternatives to be included in the Environmental Impact Report. But with their ideas the LCF residents, widely irked for not being included in the initial study for impacted areas, offered their frustrations as well. 

Pat Anderson, a resident and president of the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the city already has 10 schools within 500 feet of the 210 Freeway.

"This is a very dangertous zone for the breathing capacities of our children. If you look at the standards today by which a freeway can be built, the 210 Freeway would not be allowed...so if it couldn’t be built today, why would it be OK to put additional traffic on it,'' Anderson asked to a round of appluase. She further requested a line item on the project's budget to include sound walls.

Over the years, residents have insisted that Metro and Caltrans investigate multi-mode alternatives to close the "gap'' between the 710 and the 210. These alternatives include heavy rail and bus/light rail systems, local street upgrades and traffic management systems.

Cindy Wilcox, a board member of the La Cañada Unified School District, urged the environemental studies team to document the projected increase in particulate matte and all the hazardous air pollutants.

"The freight going through the ports is already in containers and can be loaded and double stacked in crates, especially on railroads,'' Wilcox offered, noting that may amount to the least possible cost to the L.A. basin.

An amendment passed by the MTA board last spring requires that Metro consider these "multi-mode" options during the EIR process.

The amendment, which was proposed by MTA board member Richard Katz, calls for the scoping process to "include a full range of new, route-neutral transportation options, which eventually will be included in a cost benefit analysis, alternative analyses, and all necessary environmental studies to allow policy makers, stakeholders and the public to make well-informed decisions.

Metro PIO David Sotero said Tuesday no decisions have been made, despite some residents' opinions to the contrary, and that it could be another three years before a finalized plan is officially proposed.

Until April 14th, concerned residents may register their comments on online at metro.net/sr710conversations. until April 14.