The 710 freeway is, as most of you know, very busy and congested. It serves as a main driving route for trucks coming and going from the LA and Long Beach Ports inland to warehousing facilities. It also serves as the cause for numerous environmental and health impacts on the surrounding communities (like Wilmington) that are built so close to the freeway. For instance, when the trucks idle, the community breathes in the toxic fumes. Children playing in parks are also vulnerable to the polluted air. Basically, there is no escape because there are so many trucks that pollute the environment.
The expansion of the 710 plans to connect the 710 and the 210, which runs east and west. However, in oder to do this, the freeway tunnel would have to be constructed through Pasadena. Our new neighbor would be the 710. What does this mean? Occidental faculty, administration and students, as well as community members, would also endure increased truck traffic, increased noise and increased pollution. This site has great information about the project: http://www.710freeway.org/
This expansion project is a direct contrast to the goals of so many who work toward a greener built environment and a more bike/pedestrian friendly neighborhood. In addition, the project also represents the values of our city--are people or business more important? It is also a matter of convenience. We are used to efficiency and expediency in all aspects of life--internet, food, communication, etc. However, if you stop and look, this "efficiency and expediency" does not always benefit everyone. Just as the Wilmington community has fought against the LA/LB port, we now are part of the fight, connecting people from different walks of life due to a common concern.
Please attend the informational meeting TOMORROW (November 12th) at 11:45 am in Fowler 302. Occidental puts forth energy to make this area more pedestrian friendly. However, are we willing to fight for the cause?
kylie dennis
I agree that this is a very important issue. The expansion of the 710 freeway will have many consequences on our campus and on our community. However I think that young people, specially students, have an incomparable power when they organize and fight for something. I think that if we manage to make everyone on campus aware of what this expansion means to our school then we can make a difference. College students have the power to do anything, and I think that sometimes here at oxy we forget about that. There ARE driven and concerned students here, but a few students can't make a difference, they can educate and raise awareness but ultimately if everyone else doesn't care there is not much they can do. And I think this is what happens here at oxy with a lot of social and environmental issues. Even though there are groups that show concern, if the rest of the student population doesn't show interest, the movement slowly dies. So I think we have to have this in mind when we think about what can be done about this highway expansion, we need to really come up with something that will both engage and concern students so they feel the NEED to do something about it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the more we're doing to promote alternative transportation here at the college, the more credibly we can engage with broader transportation issues like the 710.
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