Supervisor Gloria Molina wants Gold Line extention called "La Linea de Oro."

Molina urges Spanish name for Eastside rail extension - Los Angeles Times

Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times
Supervisor Gloria Molina backs a motion to call Eastside Gold Line extension la Linea de Oro, Edward R. Roybal.

Molina urges Spanish name for Eastside rail extension
Eastside rail route.

Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Supervisor Gloria Molina backs a motion to call Eastside Gold Line extension la Linea de Oro, Edward R. Roybal.
Supervisor seeks to recognize Spanish-speaking communities and Latino lawmaker by naming the route la Linea de Oro, Edward R. Roybal.
By Hector Becerra
6:46 PM PDT, April 22, 2009

When light rail returns to the Eastside neighborhoods of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles this summer, many Spanish speaking residents will undoubtedly talk about taking el tren.

But will commuters say they are riding la Linea de Oro?

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina will propose during an MTA board meeting today that the Eastside extension of the Gold Line be officially named La Linea de Oro, Edward R. Roybal.

If the motion is approved, it would be the first time the name of an MTA facility, rail or bus line will be translated from English to Spanish, MTA spokesman Jose Ubaldo said.

In her motion, Molina says that the Spanish language has been a "cornerstone of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles" and that several community members asked that the rail line be referred to in Spanish, as well as honor the late Latino congressman, who grew up in Boyle Heights.

Molina could not be reached for comment.

The communities of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles are more than 95% Latino, with a huge Spanish-speaking population.

Lupe Bojorquez, 59, a Neighborhood Watch captain, said she has talked in the past with Molina about naming the Eastside stretch of the rail la Linea de Oro.

"I think it would be a nice gesture if it was named in Spanish," Bojorquez said.

Although a date has not been set, the Gold Line extension -- or la Linea de Oro -- is expected to open as early as June.

hector.becerra@latimes.com