News

An ad hoc committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors on Wednesday voted to recommend the Metro fund an alternative to the 710 Freeway Tunnel when the full Board meets next week.

Metro Board of Directors Ad-Hoc Congestion, Highway and Roads Committee, chaired by Metro Board Chairman John Fasana and composed of five members, voted Wednesday, 3-2, to recommend the TSM/TDM alternative that’s designed to upgrade existing local street systems instead of recommending to proceed with the Tunnel concept.

Reacting, Assemblymember Chris Holden told Pasadena Now he is encouraged by Chairman Fasana’s Motion.

An important $1 million allocation to The Pasadena Playhouse previously cut from the State’s budget was officially restored Thursday in Governor Jerry Brown’s May revisions.

The money had earlier been promised to fund the Playhouse’s extensive renovations being undertaken as the venue prepares for its 100th anniversary.

Last year, when California’s fiscal outlook was cloudy, Brown had originally pulled back on the funding. At the time Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Pasadena in the California Legislature, said the cut would have been very deep.

Yesterday, Holden was upbeat after the money was back in the budget.

“I applaud Governor Brown for restoring the one million in funds for the Pasadena Playhouse renovation projects that were cut in January’s budget proposal,” he said. “Since that time, I worked directly with the Pasadena Playhouse and the Governor’s office to secure the original funding amount.”