Judge Tentatively Bars Extension of Freeway

Dealing a potentially serious blow to the proposed Long Beach Freeway extension, a federal judge issued a tentative ruling Wednesday, saying that he intends to grant a preliminary injunction to stop further preparations for its construction.

U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson said Caltrans and the U.S Department of Transportation failed to consider alternatives for the 6.2-mile project, which would cut through historic neighborhoods in South Pasadena and parts of Pasadena and El Sereno.

The decision was a major victory for South Pasadena, which filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction almost a year ago and has fought to stall the project for almost 35 years.

“We are elated by the judge’s tentative ruling,” said Martha Dale, transportation manager of South Pasadena. “We feel strongly that it corroborates our long-held contention that there are viable alternatives to the freeway.”

Pregerson wrote that the state and federal transportation agencies probably violated federal law, including the Clean Air Act, and failed to prepare an adequate environmental impact report. He wrote that so-called low-build alternatives to help traffic flow on surface streets were not adequately addressed.

He enjoined the agencies from spending any money on construction or acquisition of properties along the proposed freeway’s path, which would connect the San Bernardino and Foothill freeways, cutting through parts of Pasadena and El Sereno.

Pregerson also wrote that the agencies must conduct further studies to show that the benefits in traffic flow would outweigh damage to air quality and historic neighborhoods. The freeway would destroy 600 homes and 9,000 trees. Pregerson did not prohibit expenditures on design and planning.

“The judge basically gave South Pasadena and the National Trust everything they wanted,” said Antonio Rossmann, attorney for South Pasadena. “It frames the case from here on and places the burden on Caltrans to show the judge has misinterpreted the record.”

The tentative ruling is in effect Pregerson’s decision on the matter, pending a hearing.

Construction on the freeway began in 1951 and halted in 1965, when it reached the San Bernardino Freeway. The federal government formally approved the freeway extension in April 1998.