In October 2000, the United States Congress passed transportation bill H.R. 5394, which funded transportation projects throughout the nation, with $46 Million specifically earmarked for surface transportation improvements to mitigate traffic congestion in the SR 710 Corridor due to the freeway gap.  The funds are to be shared by the cities of Pasadena , South Pasadena and Los Angeles (El Sereno), with a total allocation to the City of Pasadena of $24.5 Million.

In May 2002, the Pasadena DAG – following many months of working with Caltrans and its consultants, city staff and other corridor city DAGs – formally approved the list of eight traffic improvement projects that collectively comprise the SR 710 Mitigation Project.  The City Council adopted the SR 710 Mitigation Project in June 2002.

The $24.5 Million in federal funds will provide 88.5 percent of project costs.  The remaining 11.5 percent of project costs will be provided through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and local funds.