Local Non-Profit Activists Testify as Portantino’s 710 Legislation Passes First Committee

Sacramento, California – Today, the Senate Transportation Committee passed SB 7, the State Highway Route 710 bill, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge). The bill would allow the surplus of the non-profit properties to be purchased at their current use value. In addition, SB 7 would prohibit Caltrans from implementing a tunnel surface freeway or expressway for Route 710 between Route 10 and Route 210 and it lays the foundation for the state to return surplus freeway stubs back to local cities in the freeway corridor.

Elizabeth Dever and Megan Foker from the Ronald McDonald House Charities and students Alaysia Baker-Baughn and Dashiell Gowen from Sequoyah School flew to Sacramento to offer testimony on behalf Senator Porantino’s legislation.

“I am very excited to have SB 7 move through the process it follows through on the commitment I made two years ago when negotiating the end to the 710 tunnel threat.  At the time, it was agreed that the EIR certification would move us all in a new and collaborative direction and then I would take the freeway off the table and protect the non-profits in the corridor.  Today, we move one big step closer to that reality,” commented Senator Portantino.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) currently owns 460 properties in the State Route 710 (SR 710) corridor, including 330 homes and 103 multi-family housing units. Originally, the properties purchased in the corridor with the intent to remove the structures for the extension of the SR 710 freeway. The purpose was to close a 4.5 mile unconstructed gap between the City of Alhambra and the City of Pasadena. Last year, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority withdrew its support and funding for a proposed project, it was determined that the freeway project will never be built.   With the certification the final EIR of the 710 corridor, there is no longer a threat of the freeway. 

SB 7 will forever prohibit the implementation of a freeway tunnel or surface freeway in the gap between Alhambra and Pasadena. The six community nonprofits who provide a public good by serving the most vulnerable in our state need to be able to continue their good work, but will not be able to do so if the price of the property is out of their reach.

“It was thrilling to be here to offer our strong voice in support of this important piece of legislation.  We are thankful for Senator Portantino’s continued support of all nonprofits in our community.  We are excited that we can finally own our current property and to be able to continue to support our community,” stated Megen Foker board member of the Pasadena Ronald McDonald Home 

The City of South Pasadena, the City of Pasadena, the Cottage Co-Op, Pasadena Ronald McDonald House, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and the Board of Supervisors all formally support SB 7.

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