Caltrans to host environmental impact hearings

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) last week announced two additional public hearings for a draft environmental impact report examining transportation alternatives between Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, California.

The hearings on May 6 and May 7 will include map viewings and time for public comment.

The draft report addresses a 4.5-mile gap between freeway systems in El Sereno and Pasadena. It proposes five separate alternatives, including a light-rail system to carry passengers between East Los Angeles and Pasadena. Other options include a freeway tunnel, a more sophisticated traffic management system, a rapid bus line or simply leaving the area as is.

The two-volume report was issued in March, and it received funding from voter-approved measure R, which mandated transportation upgrades throughout Los Angeles County. The measure also specifically allocated $750 million toward mitigating traffic congestion between the western San Gabriel Valley and eastern Los Angeles.