arroyo seco neighborhood council

pOSITION REGARDING PROPOSED 710 EXTENSION

The Los Angeles city-certified Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (ASNC) represents the historic and unique Northeast communities of Hermon, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, Montecito Heights, and Sycamore Grove in land use and other local governmental issues. The ASNC is opposed to any form of an extension to the 710 Freeway through the ASNC area if it will result in:

• The loss of homes, businesses, or any existing amenities in our communities;

• devastation or diminished use of any remaining open areas or green space enjoyed by ASNC stakeholders within our boundaries;

• any compromise of the geological stability of our area;

• further delays in the realization of improved public transportation options for ASNC stakeholders;

• increased traffic on our communities' primary feeder streets as a result of any such extension, whether after any proposed construction or for extended periods during construction;

• more congestion on existing freeways that serve our area's residents, workers, etc;

• heightened noise levels related to re-configured traffic flows;

• placement of ventilation devices that deface the landscape or concentrate pollutants in any of our communities, negatively affecting constituent health;

• or, any other environmental or aesthetic degradation that cannot be mitigated successfully.

Further, the ASNC urges a consideration of alternatives to the 710 “gap closure” that address more precisely the current and future needs of our constituents as well as the rest of Southern California – reducing congestion, improving air quality, increasing connectivity for pedestrians, making our cities more livable – such as:

• Trip Reduction and Transportation Demand Management for autos;

• low-build options to facilitate traffic movement within “the gap”;

• a more comprehensive transit network, providing seamless connectivity;

• heavy rail taking freight to more remote hubs for transfer to trucks.

The ASNC keeps its constituency informed through its website: http://www.asnc.us/ as well as its group email: asncalert@yahoogroups.com. As the 710 issue evolves, the ASNC will host public forums to present all sides of the debate and offer a venue for all concerned constituents to become involved.