I-710 Major Corridor Improvement Update

Environmental Phase: On June 20, 2007, Metro Board's Planning & Programming Committee recommended approval of a contract with URS Corporationto prepare the I-710Environmental(EIR/ EIS) and Engineering Project Report, as well as a contract with Moore Iacafano Goltsman (MIG) for the Facilitation of Community Participation in the I-710 EIR/EIS. The Committee has forwarded its recommendations to the full Metro Board. This work will be funded jointly by Metro, Gateway Cities COG, Caltrans, SCAG, Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, and the I-5 JPA. If approved the consultant team will begin its work by preparing for public environmental scoping meetings and assisting the Gateway Cities COG and I-710 Project Committee with the formation of the committees called for in the adopted Community Participation Framework.

Early Action Plan: there are three locations that require earlier implementation to deal with current congestion and safety problems associated with high volumes of heavy-duty trucks and they are:

• 1. Shoemaker Bridge and PCH and Anaheim St. interchanges
• 2. Firestone Blvd. Interchange(includes Sound wall, Southern Avenue Extension)
• 3. Atlantic Blvd./Bandini Blvd. Interchange

Funding is being requested or secured to evaluate congestion relief requirements at these locations in a manner that would be compatible with potential future improvements. These evaluations would assess near-term improvements to reduce congestion on the mainline freeway and at the interchange ramps, reduce accidents, improve safety, improve air quality, correct current freeway design deficiencies at these locations, and replace older bridges with modern bridges that meet current earthquake standards and allow for increased open space.

Current Caltrans Projects:

While theI-710 environmental processgoes forward Caltrans hasbegunI-710 freeway pavement rehabilitation(Long Life Pavement ) and Center Median Barrier improvements. The portion in the vicinity of South Gate is scheduledto be completed by June 2008.

Truck Enforcement and Inspection Facilities: With funding provided by Metro, the Gateway Cities COG is moving forward on the shared goal of maintaining clean, safe goods movement in the I-710 Corridor. With the new funding, a study is underway to determine whether modern state-of-the-art truck enforcement and inspection facilities can be located within the Corridor. Working with local cities, this study should be completed later this year. Officials from the Gateway Cities COG have studied the advances made by the State of Florida in high technology truck inspection and believe this technology could be a great benefit to the I-710 communities and commuters. Various sites will be examined to determine access feasibility along with enforcement and inspections that would include weight, safety and air pollution inspections.