The Rossmoor Community Service District board on Tuesday, July 10, voted unanimously to oppose alternatives 2 and 3 to the I-405 expansion project.
The Rossmoor Community Service District board on Tuesday, July 10, voted unanimously to oppose alternatives 2 and 3 to the I-405 expansion project.
The board directed staff to send a letter to CalTrans in opposition to additional lanes or toll lanes for the freeway.
As part of the motion, the board directed the general manager to join with the city of Seal Beach and the Rossmoor Homeowners Association in opposing Alternatives 2 and 3, which would add additional lanes, with Alternative 3 proposing toll lanes.
The board submitted its comments by letter dated July 16, and received confirmation that said comments and a response from OCTA/CalTrans would be included in the Final DEIR/DEIS. The public had until July 17 to comment on the draft environmental impact report.
Project alternatives
The 405 Freeway is now estimated to carry approximately 300,000 cars per day. That number is expected to increase by 35 to 40 percent in the next 25 years. The expansion project has been proposed to address the expected traffic increase.
The OC Transportation Authority has come up with three alternative versions of the freeway widening project—four if you count the “no project” option.
The no project option means that once the State Route-22 West Connector project is done, freeway expansion stops.
The other options are:
Alternative One: Build one general purpose lane in each direction between Euclid Street and I-605.
Alternative Two: Build two general purpose lanes in each direction between Brookhurst/Euclid Street and I-605.
Alternative Three: Build one general purpose lane between Euclid Street and I-605 and one toll lane in each direction between State Route 73 and State Route 22 east of I-405.
Rossmoor’s reaction
The Rossmoor board and some members of the community said the EIR had an inadequate study of the impacts of additional noise and pollution, particularly as it affects elementary schools in Rossmoor, as well as, elderly and infirmed residents. Both of these environmental elements are thought to be exacerbated by the backup of vehicular traffic at the junction of the I-405, I-605 and SR 22 at the LA/Orange County line. Currently there are no plans for widening of those traffic corridors in Los Angeles County to absorb the additional traffic.
“The Rossmoor Community Services District stands with our neighboring communities in our belief that the DEIR inadequately addresses the environmental effects on our community and the region,” said Rossmoor board President Alfred Coletta.
The San Diego Freeway (I-405) Policy Working Group will discuss the project at the agency’s 8 p.m., Aug. 22, meeting in the Orange County Transportation Authority building in Orange.
