Agenda Report
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Department of Transportation
January 10, 2022
SUBJECT: STATE ROUTE 710 NORTHERN STUB REPURPOSING STATUS UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
This report is intended to provide information to the City Council regarding the State Route 71 O North (SR71 ON) repurposing efforts; no action is required.
BACKGROUND:
The City continues to make progress on the State Route (SR) 710 Northern Stub Relinquishment process. In January 2021, the City completed a Technical Feasibility Analysis and a supplemental traffic analysis to determine the technical feasibility of converting the existing SR-71O/SR-134/I-210 freeway-to-freeway interchange into a local street network with connections to 1-210 and SR-134. Following the completion of the Technical Feasibility Analysis, a supplemental analysis was conducted, at the request of Caltrans, which provided a detailed assessment of ramp queuing and weaving along multiple sections of the SR-134 and 1-210. This technical work provided a more granular understanding of the anticipated traffic conditions with the removal of the SR-710 stub and connector roads. With the supplemental traffic analysis completed, the process has now transitioned into the next phase- the relinquishment process. The development of a relinquishment agreement between the City and Caltrans is underway as are key agency briefings to ensure key parties are aware of the progress being made.
Following the completion of the items above, and pending relinquishment of the 71 ON stub area, a Citywide planning effort will commence to revision the area, determine the land use, transportation network, and utility infrastructure. This planning effort will include significant public outreach and input. This multi-year effort is anticipated to begin in late 2022.
HISTORY
In the November 26, 2018 State Route 710 North Project Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS), Caltrans identified the Transportation System Management/Transportation Demand Management (TSM/TDM) MEETING OF __ O_l_l l_O_ l_2_0_2_2 AGENDA ITEM NO. _l_Z_ State Route 710 Northern Stub Repurposing Status Update January 10, 2022
as the locally preferred alternative. Since then, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has coordinated the advancement of TSM/TDM efforts to be implemented in lieu of a 710 North connection.
Identifying the TSM/TDM as the locally preferred alternative has facilitated local, multi modal capacity enhancement projects to advance and be implemented, however, this action alone did not preclude the possibility of a future 710 North freeway connection.
As long as the gap corridor remains listed in the California freeway and expressway system, the potential of a future connection exists.
Pasadena's goal is to not only have the 710 North gap corridor delisted from the State highway system, but to have the streets within the SR 710 City boundaries (stub) to be relinquished to the City thereby regaining local control. Delisting the SR 71 O North and achieving relinquishment requires several interim steps, the first being reaching an agreement with Caltrans, with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) serving as the final decision making body.
As a result of legislation introduced by State Senator Portantino (SB 7) and Assemblymember Holden (AB 29), the California Street and Highways Code, Section 622.3 indicates that the CTC may make a determination to relinquish the portion of SR 710 that is contained within the City of Pasadena to the City if Caltrans and the City enter into an agreement providing for that relinquishment. The ongoing coordination with Caltrans and completion of the feasibility study and traffic analysis serves as the foundation for relinquishment agreement discussions now underway between Caltrans and the City.
RELINQUISHMENT COORDINATION
Due to the regional significance of this effort, staff will present a status update of the 710 Northern Stub repurposing to several key agencies. Discussions are underway to have staff provide an update on the City's relinquishment efforts to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Planning and Programming Committee later this month. Although Metro does not have jurisdiction over the relinquishment process, the City looks forward to collaborating with Metro once relinquishment is secured. As the regional transportation agency, Metro's participation in a City led planning effort will be important as the City defines what the future transportation solutions will be along the 71 ON corridor.
In addition, Caltrans and City staff will jointly provide a status update to the CTC in late January, reporting on the effective collaboration to date as well as the discussing upcoming steps in the relinquishment process. The CTC presentation will be informational, but it is an important presentation to laying the foundation for a future relinquishment action on behalf of the CTC.
NEXT STEPS
Staff expects to return to City Council in summer 2022 with a staff recommendation to submit the relinquishment reports to CTC for relinquishment consideration.
State Route 710 Northern Stub Repurposing Status Update January 10, 2022
Following the State relinquishment of the SR 710 northern stub area to the City, a multi disciplinary , community driven visioning process will begin to layout the future land use, transportation network, and utility infrastructure network needed to reconnect Pasadena . This planning effort will include significant public outreach and input to rework the stub back into the fabric of the City. This multi-year effort is anticipated to begin in 2022.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The 710 Northern Stub Repurposing Supplemental Analysis assists in advancing the following objectives of the Mobility Element:
• Policy 1.2 - Promote greater linkages between land uses and transit, as well as non-vehicular modes of transportation to reduce vehicular trip related emissions. • Policy 1.3 - Recognize the distinctive transportation needs of the community and deliver appropriate transportation services developed through public outreach programs.
• Policy 1.26 - Continue to coordinate with other governmental agencies in the area, including municipalities , Southern California Association of Governments , Metro and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to address issues of mutual concern related to the transportation system.
FISCAL IMPACT :
This report is for information only. The fiscal impact of the North 710 stub relinquishment process and implementation of transitional projects will be identified as a separate process and submitted to City Council for approval .
Respectfully submitted ,
LA<lfu:o-codo
Director
Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Deputy Director
Approved by: