Freeway Squabble

Alhambra really shot itself in the foot this time (July 20-21). While trying to commute to work Tuesday morning, I noticed all sorts of tremendously inconvenienced people, including me.

Unfortunately for the city, they were all Alhambra residents completely frustrated in their attempts to get to work. No one in South Pasadena seemed bothered, but Alhambra commuters certainly were! I saw MTA buses unable to access bus stops, thus leading to stranded commuters and probably angry employers.

This was an exceptionally childish trick, and the possibility that it will result in South Pasadena changing its position with respect to the freeway is highly remote. As an Alhambra resident, I am annoyed.

SHARRON MAHONEY

Alhambra

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Finally, relief at last for Alhambra streets! Why didn’t Alhambra city officials implement the diversions years ago? If they had, the freeway extension would probably have been built. South Pasadena officials were concerned about their public safety and emergency vehicle accessibility with added congestion on their streets.

Where has their concern been for Alhambra residents’ public safety and accessibility of emergency vehicles for the last 35 years? As long as South Pasadena is not inconvenienced with the frustrations of traffic congestion, the completion of the 710 Freeway extension will never happen.

DENISE FOSS

Alhambra

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The dilemma seems to be that Alhambra can only think of connecting the 710 along the proposed route, and South Pasadena will not let itself be destroyed. The fact that is not discussed is that in the several miles of interface between Alhambra and South Pasadena, only two streets go through.

If the issue is to reduce congestion (rather than to build freeways and destroy historic towns), then another alternative is to push through four north-south streets, making them one-way, without bicycle lanes or parking during rush hour, and then you could have traffic move without building a freeway.

But that would take cooperation and discussion between Alhambra, South Pasadena and state and federal officials. So far, that has not happened.

DONALD RAPP

South Pasadena