KCET Departures has begun a series of stories that focus on the I-710 Freeway and its impact on the nation, both economically and culturally. The first story covers the history of the Ports of LA and Long Beach. Writer Gilbert Estrada shares the history of the twin ports, as they are often referred, and their impact on the surrounding communities and corridors. He writes:
Although the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach are the economic one-two punch for the region, it comes at a great cost. The ports are part of the region’s mobile sources that account for 94% of our ambient carcinogenic risk. The dual ports are the single largest fixed source of air pollution in the entire L.A. basin, and before recent improvements (after years of community uproar), they emitted as much diesel exhaust as 16,000 trucks running for 24-hours straight.
Even with the successes in regulating port operations, the health impacts on the surrounding communities continue to be detrimental. Estrada further discusses the growing operations at the Port and the need to build infrastructure for transporting goods and products from the Port to the rest of the nation; and, in the second story, Estrada discusses the construction of the I-710 Freeway:
…[T]he freeway was constructed to serve business generated by the harbor and local industry; commuter vehicular traffic was secondary, at best. Any negative impact to communities during or after the construction of the freeway was seen as all but non-existent.
Estrada shares Bob Eula’s story, an East Yard member and lifelong resident of the City of Commerce. Bob saw the construction of the I-710 freeway happen and saw how it changed the community he knew so well.
Join the discussion!
As part of the series, KCET asks the question: How would you improve the 710 Corridor? For those that know about the 710 Corridor Project, this is a discussion that many community members, elected officials and organizations along the 710 corridor have been involved in for many years. We encourage you to join the conversation, visit the KCET website and share what you envision for this project!
Posted: February 12, 2014 by anegrete
KCET Departures: I-710 Corridor
KCET Departures has begun a series of stories that focus on the I-710 Freeway and its impact on the nation, both economically and culturally. The first story covers the history of the Ports of LA and Long Beach. Writer Gilbert Estrada shares the history of the twin ports, as they are often referred, and their impact on the surrounding communities and corridors. He writes:
Even with the successes in regulating port operations, the health impacts on the surrounding communities continue to be detrimental. Estrada further discusses the growing operations at the Port and the need to build infrastructure for transporting goods and products from the Port to the rest of the nation; and, in the second story, Estrada discusses the construction of the I-710 Freeway:
Estrada shares Bob Eula’s story, an East Yard member and lifelong resident of the City of Commerce. Bob saw the construction of the I-710 freeway happen and saw how it changed the community he knew so well.
Join the discussion!
As part of the series, KCET asks the question: How would you improve the 710 Corridor? For those that know about the 710 Corridor Project, this is a discussion that many community members, elected officials and organizations along the 710 corridor have been involved in for many years. We encourage you to join the conversation, visit the KCET website and share what you envision for this project!
Below are links to the first two stories:
1. Brief History of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
2. The 710 Long Beach Freeway: A History of America’s Most Important Freeway
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