Portantino’s Push Helps Procure Sound Wall Funds

This May, the California Transportation Commission voted to appropriate
$5 million to the city of La Cañada Flintridge to fund the construction of a sound wall along the 210 Freeway. The vote matched a $5 million award from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, creating an awarded total of $10 million for additional sound wall construction in LCF.
“Today, I am thrilled we were able to obtain more funding for sound wall construction in La Cañada,” said state Sen. Anthony Portantino, a LCF resident, who included the city’s sound needs in SB 1. “I want to thank everyone who worked collaboratively to ensure this project was funded. The city of La Cañada Flintridge has been pushing for sound walls ever since the 210 Freeway was constructed and this is another significant step toward completing the project.”
“This is great news for the city of La Cañada Flintridge,” City Councilman Len Pieroni said. “Our community was promised sound walls when the 210 Freeway was first constructed, and we have been working toward the realization of that goal for a long time. We made a sizable investment in producing our own environmental documentation and that decision is continuing to generate positive results for the quality of life of our residents. The City Council is grateful to the M.T.A., C.T.C. and the senator for supporting our projects.”
When Portantino was mayor of LCF he convened a committee to help the city create a plan for constructing sound walls in the city. At the time, the city managed its own environmental documents called an NBSSR (Noise Barrier Scope Summary Reports) to make the city eligible for funding. Portantino utilized the same strategy a second time by again making the city’s NBSSR the key component of eligibility within SB 1.
Separately, Portantino this week received the Honorary Service Award from the First District PTA.
“It is an honor to receive the Service Award from my friends at First District PTA,” said Portantino, who has two daughters, one who completed her education in public schools and the other who is currently a 10th-grader at La Cañada High School. “First District has some of the strongest children’s advocates in the state representing well-organized PTAs from across the San Gabriel Valley. I look forward to continuing our collaboration that puts the interests of our children first.”
Portantino also got a big win on Wednesday for his efforts on gun violence prevention, when the Senate passed SB 1100, a bill that prohibits a person from making more than one firearm purchase within a 30-day period in California. The bill, now headed to the state Assembly, also increases the age requirement for purchasing all firearms to 21 years.
“Today, I am proud that this important piece of legislation has passed the California state Senate. This bill sends a clear message to those in Washington who continue to ignore the cries for change to our gun laws,” Portantino said in a statement. “Here in California we create change and respond to gun violence with sensible control. As a dad and a legislator I am determined to help California act appropriately.”