Pasadena’s Traffic Crisis: The Unfinished 710 Freeway and Its Lasting Legacy.

Pasadena and neighboring communities are confronting an intensifying traffic crisis linked to the unfinished 710 Freeway, often called the “710 Freeway Stub.” This incomplete stretch has impacted local infrastructure for decades and continues to create challenges for traffic, livability, and neighborhood cohesion.

Background: What Happened to the 710 Freeway?

Initially designed to connect the 210 and 10 Freeways, the 710 extension was expected to ease regional congestion. However, due to strong community opposition, environmental concerns, and lengthy legal battles, the project was officially canceled in 2017. This left behind the 710 Freeway Stub—a 60-acre section spanning from Union Street to Columbia Street, intersecting from St. John Avenue to Pasadena Avenue.

Traffic Impact: From Solution to Problem.

The 710 extension has had significant repercussions, particularly as traffic congestion spills into local streets. Neighborhoods like Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, and Alhambra  experience daily gridlock as commuters turn to side streets to avoid freeway backups. Residential roads such as Orange Grove Boulevard, Arroyo Parkway, Fair Oaks Avenue and Raymond Avenue are shouldering increased traffic loads.

Adding to the strain, significant construction projects are underway along Fair Oaks Avenue. While essential, these projects have added further delays to an already congested area, impacting both residents and businesses. With traffic rerouted through additional residential streets, the community is feeling the effects of the 710 cancellation and ongoing construction simultaneously, intensifying local concerns about accessibility and safety.

Why Is Traffic Getting Worse?

• Overflow from the Unfinished 710: Without a complete freeway to manage the flow, commuters continue to crowd onto residential streets, creating bottlenecks that local infrastructure was not built to handle.

• Restricted Freeway Access: Limited on-ramps and exit points worsen delays, especially when essential routes like those leading to Huntington Hospital face restrictions.

• Construction on Fair Oaks Avenue: Major construction along this key route has slowed traffic significantly, rerouting more vehicles onto adjacent streets and increasing the commute time for residents and businesses alike.

The Reconnecting Communities Initiative: A Vision for Change.

To address these issues, the “City of Pasadena launched the “Reconnecting Communities” initiative, forming a panel that meets monthly. This panel’s mission is to redevelop the freeway stub to better serve the community, with proposed goals like affordable housing, public parks, and restorative justice initiatives to reconnect neighborhoods divided by eminent domain in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the panel has yet to prioritize traffic solutions, which many residents feel should be addressed first.

Proposed Redevelopment Plans for the 710 Freeway Stub.

1. Affordable Housing: Plans to construct housing aim to ease local shortages and enhance affordability in Pasadena.

2. Public Parks and Green Spaces: Redeveloping the stub to include green space offers opportunities for environmental improvement and recreational use.

3. Community-Centered Development: Reconnecting neighborhoods and creating spaces for community activities could increase social cohesion and preserve the area’s historic charm.

4. Restorative Justice Efforts: With many properties seized through eminent domain, the initiative seeks to provide restorative justice to those displaced decades ago.

Pros and Cons of the 710 Freeway Stub Redevelopment.

Pros:

• Community Integration: Redevelopment could reconnect neighborhoods and build a more cohesive community layout disrupted by the freeway project.

• Improved Housing Access: New affordable housing would address Pasadena’s housing shortage, offering more accessible options for residents.

• Environmental and Recreational Benefits: Additional parks would reduce local pollution, improve air quality, and provide green spaces for leisure.

• Property Value Enhancement: Development could increase property values, benefiting homeowners in the surrounding area.

Cons:

• Traffic Issues Remain Unresolved: Without a plan for rerouted traffic, local streets may continue to face gridlock, impacting residents’ quality of life and emergency response access.

• Increased Demand on Resources: Additional housing and community facilities may add strain to local infrastructure, schools, and emergency services.

• Potential Rise in Property Prices: Redevelopment could also drive up property values, potentially displacing long-term residents.

• Uncertain Timeline and Funding: Redevelopment of this scale often encounters delays and funding challenges, meaning immediate benefits could be slow to arrive.

Community Feedback and Next Steps.

While residents generally support community-oriented redevelopment, many believe that traffic concerns must be addressed to avoid ongoing gridlock and safety issues. With construction on Fair Oaks Avenue adding another layer of disruption, the community needs an immediate traffic strategy. Recent open houses for historic homes acquired by Caltrans in the 1960s drew significant public interest, underscoring the community’s desire for a connected and vibrant Pasadena—balanced with effective traffic management.

What’s Next for Pasadena?

As officials consider redevelopment plans for the 710 Freeway Stub, Pasadena’s future remains at a crossroads. Achieving a balance between livability, accessibility, and neighborhood integrity will require innovative solutions. Traffic management, in particular, must be addressed to ensure that community-oriented goals don’t come at the cost of increased congestion.

We Want to Hear From You.

Does the vision for community benefits outweigh current traffic concerns? What solutions would you suggest for balancing development with effective traffic management?