First Step Approved to Extend Freeway Into South Pasadena : Roads: Officials recommend that $4.8 millon be earmarked to begin right-of-way acquisition.

Moving from pencil to pavement, the staff of the California Transportation Commission has recommended approval of a crucial first step in the controversial extension of the Long Beach Freeway through South Pasadena.

Despite bitter objections from local officials in South Pasadena, state transportation officials recommended that the commission earmark $4.8 million in a new master road building plan to begin right-of-way acquisition for the completion of the heavily traveled roadway between the Foothill Freeway and Valley Boulevard in Alhambra.

Even though the staff recommended--and the commission is expected to approve--this first step toward completion of the gap, it is far from becomming a reality.

Still to be completed Remen said, is the environmental process and a route adoption, a detailed plan of exactly how and where the new roadway will be built through the city.

If tradition holds, the commission will formally endorse the staff recommendations next week when it meets to approve the 1990 State Transportation Improvement Plan, a multi-billion-dollar seven-year blueprint for California road and rail projects.

Los Angeles County fared better in the recommendation process than any other county, with the staff proposing that the county be allowed to exceed its minimum entitlement to state transportation funds by $171 million. Under state law, each county is required to receive a minimum share of transportation expenditures based on a formula encompassing population and miles of highway.

Given high priority in the recommendations were projects that would close freeway gaps in the Los Angeles County area. In addition to the Long Beach Freeway extension, the staff also recommended approval of funds for acquiring right-of-way for Route 30 from Foothill Boulevard to the San Bernandino County line.

In proposals for roadbuilding in San Bernandino County, the staff recommended acquiring right of way for the continuation of Route 30 from the county line to Route 215. A major east-west artery, Route 30 has been discussed for more than 30 years. Completion of 30 would relieve some of the pressure on the San Bernandino Freeway (Interstate 10).

Remen said a major objective of the staff had been to propose projects that would help relieve congestion in California’s urban areas.

Under that heading, the staff recommended approval of $42 million to widen Route 14 to eight lanes from San Fernando Road to Shadow Pines Boulevard.

Of all the projects the only one that is expected to generate any controversy is the extension of the Long Beach Freeway at South Pasadena, which has been the object of contention for nearly 30 years.

Only a month ago Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles), who represents the South Pasadena area, begged the commission to withhold a decision on the project until 1992. He said he feared the freeway would be routed through the center of city displacing 3,000 residents, destroying historic homes and creating environmental damage.

Other officials however, pleaded with state officials to take a broader view and consider the transportation needs of residents in surrounding communities who were being forced into a bottleneck at the city.

On Thursday, State Sen. Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) characterized the staff position as “courageous.”

“I’d like to commend the transportation commission staff for basing their recommendations on what’s right for the region and the working people of San Gabriel Valley,” he said. “It’s an indication that the staff is willing to make tough decisions on Los Angeles traffic problems even though certain individuals oppose a more regional solution.”

But South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn Fierro said city officials are already lobbying commission members to ignore the staff recommendations and search for alternatives that could still relieve congestion but not build a “12-lane freeway through the city.”

“I think this is a typical bureaucratic staff recommendation ... they didn’t give it much thought,” she said.

If city officials are rebuffed by the commission, she said they are prepared to take the issue to court.