Residents within the cities of South Pasadena, Pasadena, Alhambra, and El Sereno in Los Angeles claim the Multi-Mode Low Build Alternative will work better for much less money than the proposed 710 freeway extension in moving people and goods between Interstate 10 and 210.

What is the Multi-Mode Low Build Alternative?

It is a system of transportation improvements that upgrades city surface streets, enhances existing freeways, and encourages coordinated linkage between different travel modes: automobiles, light railway, buses, shuttles, and bicycles. It is designed to improve mobility within South Pasadena, Pasadena, Alhambra and El Sereno.

What would the Multi-Mode Low Build system do?

· Extend the 710 freeway diffusion, reducing east-west traffic on Valley Boulevard and congestion on Fremont Avenue.

· Add a 710 off-ramp at Cal State L.A.; add on and off-ramps to the 134 freeway at Pasadena and St. John's Avenues in Pasadena; add an on-ramp to the 110 freeway in South Pasadena at Fair Oaks Avenue and State Street.

· Build bridges over the depressed railroad tracks in Alhambra, reconnecting north-south streets to relieve traffic congestion on Fremont Avenue.

· Upgrade Figueroa Street to create a parallel corridor to the 110 between downtown L.A. and Pasadena.

· Redirect traffic on Del Mar Avenue in Pasadena to Raymond Avenue and to Arroyo Parkway.

· Reconfigure the Fremont Avenue-Huntington Drive-Fair Oaks Avenue connection in South Pasadena.

· Synchronize traffic signals on Fair Oaks and Fremont Avenues for smoother moving traffic flow.

· Improve intersections by providing more left-hand turn lanes and medians.

· Implement traffic "calming" techniques to protect residential neighborhoods from traffic intrusion.

· Complete the Blue Line light railway from downtown L.A. to Pasadena.

· Coordinate light railway, bus and shuttle schedules. Why is the Multi-Mode Low Build Alternative a better choice?

· It will save more than 1,000 homes (El Sereno, 564; South Pasadena, 315; Pasadena, 143; and Alhambra, 25) and permit more than 4,000 residents to continue living in them.

· It will save over 7,000 trees, 70 historic properties and six historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

· It will save taxpayers an enormous amount of money, costing an estimated $135 million, about 10% of what the freeway expansion would cost.

· It will prevent increases in air and noise pollution.

· It can be accomplished now; create jobs now.

· It can solve the region's transportation problems now - not 20 years from now.