Campus rallies in support of transit extension

Campus rallies in support of transit extension - News

Campus rallies in support of transit extension
Emily Rios
Issue date: 5/20/09 Section: News


Mt. Sierra College professor Glenn Dunki-Jacobs, whose students initiated the Media Credit: Emily Rios
Mt. Sierra College professor Glenn Dunki-Jacobs, whose students initiated the "I Will Ride" campaign, spoke of the importance of the Gold Line Foothill Extension during the May 7 rally.

The Foothill Extension of the Gold Line could have potentially received federal funding under the stimulus, but funding was awarded instead to the Eastside Extension, which runs from downtown Los Angeles to East Los Angeles.

Nevertheless, supporters of the extension are working to ensure that this project gets off the ground. Their enthusiasm was evident at the May 7 "I Will Ride" rally held in the Campus Center Mall at Citrus College.

Giving a "hoot" was a theme reiterated by those who addressed the issue.

Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., superintendent/president of Citrus College, pointed out that Citrus has reached its highest enrollment ever with 14,000 students in spring 2009. In addition to the challenges of serving those students and constructing more buildings, the biggest problem for the campus community has become parking.

One solution to that problem, she said, is the Gold Line, which the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority needs to fund now.

The Gold Line would expand public transit options in the San Gabriel Valley by extending the rail system from Pasadena to Azusa and eventually to Ontario International Airport.

"The Gold Line will be our brain train. Educational institutions, business and industry and our communities will all profit from it," she said. "We need it, and we need Metro to support us and support us now."

Local elected officials were also in attendance, including Azusa Councilman Uriel Macias.

"It is truly remarkable to be one of the few colleges with something like this accessible in such a manner," he said.

Glendora Councilman Doug Tessitor, who serves on the board of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, said that the Gold Line is the only transit project in Los Angeles County that is ready to go. He urged those in attendance to attend Metro meetings and speak on behalf of the Gold Line to get the board to support the Foothill Extension.

Mt. Sierra College professor Glenn Dunki-Jacobs, whose students initiated the "I Will Ride" campaign as a means to petition Metro to fund the line, emphasized that everyone would benefit from the Gold Line.

"You will have more people in the area taking the Gold Line than you will see taking the 'subway to the seas' with their surfboards," he said.

Stefano Saltalamacchia, Associated Students of Citrus College president, urged students to support this project, emphasizing the positive benefits it will have for future students.

The "I Will Ride" campaign is still working to ensure that local funds collected under Measure R go toward the Foothill Extension.

Measure R is a half-cent sales tax increase that was approved by Los Angeles County voters in November 2008 and is expected to generate $40 billion over the next 30 years to fund transportation projects and provide traffic relief.

Measure R goes into effect on July 1.

For more information, visit iwillride.org or follow the group on Twitter at twitter.com/IWillRide.

Emily Rios can be reached at Rios_EmilyC@yahoo.com