Pasadena Council to Let Voters Make Freeway Call

A week after withdrawing political support for the project, the Pasadena City Council has tentatively approved a plan to let voters decide what the city’s position should be on the construction of the Long Beach Freeway extension.

Council members late Monday night voted 5 to 2 to direct the city attorney to draft a Nov. 7 ballot measure on the proposed roadway, which would plug a 6.2-mile gap bridging the Foothill and San Bernardino freeways.

The vote came a week after the eight-member council voted 5 to 3 to reverse a long-standing position and oppose construction of the proposed $1.4-billion freeway through Pasadena, South Pasadena and El Sereno. That vote dealt a major blow to the project, which has dragged on for more than three decades and, until last week’s vote, had Pasadena’s support.

Monday’s council vote, however, would mean the City Council decision would be superseded by the outcome of the November ballot measure. The council is slated May 15 to give its final approval to the public vote when it decides the language on the ballot.