People Post is a space for opinion pieces, letters to the editor and guest submissions from members of the Long Beach community. The following is an op-ed submitted by Mayor Robert Garcia and 7th District Councilman Roberto Uranga and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Long Beach Post.
Recently the Metro Board of Directors and the Long Beach City Council’s 710 Oversight Committee took action to modernize and rebuild the 710 Freeway from the ports to the SR-60. The 710 is a critical economic gateway to the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. We also know the region, because of trade, has suffered greatly from pollution.
The goals of this modernization project are to decrease pollution from the freeway, make it safer for the drivers of both cars and trucks, decrease truck traffic in local neighborhoods, and stimulate the regional economy by creating thousands of good-paying construction jobs.
This plan prioritizes and funds safety and improving our environment over widening the freeway or taking away any homes or businesses.
Leaving the freeway as it is will not solve the problems that burden our local communities. The 710 Freeway has a higher-than-average rate of accidents involving trucks and cars, it contributes to Long Beach’s high asthma rate and adds to cases of heart disease and cancer. The many diesel trucks that travel along the freeway emit dangerous particulate matter that makes its way into our lungs.
The 710 modernization project was recommended by the Long Beach City Council’s 710 Oversight Committee, and approved by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors. This project, for which final approval must come from Caltrans, includes a zero emissions freight corridor and the authority for Metro to subsidize the purchase of electric trucks. This acceleration of zero emission technology and trucks will greatly increase the air quality along the freeway and in the greater Los Angeles area.
The Metro Board of Directors also committed to convening a working group made up of key stakeholders to develop a policy recommendation for a full, zero-emission only element for the entire 19-mile long stretch of the 710 freeway. The Board also committed to working with stakeholders to stimulate and accelerate alternate ways to move freight, including new technologies and on- and off-dock rail. These two initiatives will clean our air and reduce congestion, again, without widening the freeway or taking homes or businesses.
And most importantly, the project must complete all the initial stage projects, including numerous sustainability initiatives and infrastructure repair, before any widening can begin. In fact, 90 percent of the project is a modernization of the current footprint. The widening is limited in scope and will need further board approvals to move forward. The Board also requested that engineering for any future projects be done with an eye toward no taking of property.
Projects proposed for early action include fixing the on- and off- ramps in Long Beach to make them safer, provide investments along the Los Angeles River corridor to make them more walkable and bikeable, and repaving and fixing streets that lead to and from the freeway. The project also includes funding for health-benefits programs including air filters for schools, senior centers, hospitals and medical care facilities.
As this project moves forward, we will work to ensure that the community is engaged and informed along the way.
Robert Garcia is the Mayor of Long Beach and serves on the Metro Board of Directors. Roberto Uranga is a Councilmember and the Chair of the I-710 Oversight Committee.
Editor’s note: the next scheduled I-710 Project Committee Meeting is Thursday, May 31 at 6:30PM on the second floor of the Clearwater Building, 16401 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount.