Monday, September 29, 2008

2 Freeway Terminus EIR is Coming!


Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 9, 2008. Typical morning commute on the 2 Freeway at the Rosebud Ave. overcrossing and Corralitas Drive, shot from the top of the Corralitas Staircase. The Semi-Tropic Spiritualists' Tract is the hillside across the freeway. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) sent out word the State Route 2 Terminus Improvement Project's Draft Environmental Impact Report would be released in mid-October and the public would have 45 days to review it.

To mark the EIR draft release, we'll look at the history of the neighborhood surrounding the 2 Freeway in October on the Corralitas Red Car Property Blog, illustrated with lots of photos from neighbors dating back to 1922.

The MTA and CalTrans have been talking about redesigning the 2 Terminus at Glendale Blvd. for years. The Silver Lake and Echo Park communities overwhelmingly prefer "Alternative D," which would create an additional 5 acres of public park at Lasorda Field of Dreams.

When questioned directly regarding the impact of all the proposed designs, including the "do nothing" option, MTA and CalTrans officials admitted we would see an increase in southbound traffic on our section of the 2 Freeway, no matter which alternative was chosen. So support Alternative D, at least we get something in return for increased air and noise pollution in our neighborhood.

Review all of the alternatives on the MTA's website.