List: Our View: Keeping Gold Line extension on track - Pasadena Star-News
Our View: Keeping Gold Line extension on track
Posted: 02/10/2010 04:48:35 PM PST
THE question is worth asking: What was the key factor in moving the local Gold Line Construction Authority into agreement last month with the Los Angeles-weighted Metro board?
Some say it was the new study released by the highly respected Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., which estimates the first phase of the light-rail extension - from Sierra Madre Villa in East Pasadena to Citrus College in Glendora - would create 7,000 new jobs and infuse $1 billion into the region's stagnant economy.
Those kind of numbers will melt away the most ardent parochial squabbles.
Or was it new leadership?
Last spring, Metro said goodbye to longtime chief Roger Snoble and replaced him with Art Leahy. CEO Leahy has been more amenable to using the one-half-cent sales tax funds from Measure R for building the first phase of the extension than was Snoble. Another new leader, Art Najarian, a Glendale councilman, who took over as chairman of the MTA board, gave credit to Leahy. We give kudos to both Leahy and Najarian for recognizing that commuters from the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley need alternatives to driving the 210 Freeway.
But those are not the only reasons. There's one more.
That involves an unprecedented show of bipartisanship from the California congressional delegation in support of federal funding for this extension and two others, the lengthening of Gold Line Eastside out of East L.A. to South El Monte or Whittier, and a Crenshaw rail line. A letter signed in October 2009 by 14 Democrats and Republicans from the South Bay to Pasadena and from San Dimas to San Bernardino applied the right amount of political heat to the Metro board members. (While no federal funds arrived, these same pols are working on getting some for the final leg to Ontario.)
Throw in higher gasoline prices and President Obama's desire to improve rail travel in the United States (see the $2 billion he gave to California for a high-speed rail) and the pieces began falling into place.
We think it may have been all these factors combined, which proves that it takes many people pushing on many pressure points in order for our local region to receive its fair share of transit funding.
Already the political pressure has resulted in a commitment from MTA to the Gold Line Construction Authority for the full $851 million for the first part of the extension.
Like the initial Gold Line from Pasadena to downtown L.A., this one should be breaking ground on time - in June. We're pleased to hear contracts are being let for the construction of the bridge that will take the light-rail from Pasadena to the Arcadia station on the other side of the 210 Freeway. Residents will notice work there first. Also, the Construction Authority is moving ahead with finding potential contractors to design-build the tracks, stations, crossings, utilities and maintenance and operations. That will be awarded in September.
This is extremely good news for the San Gabriel Valley. First, for the new jobs the construction phase will create. Secondly, when the extension is completed in 2013, commuters will have a fast, safe way to get to and from work and students at Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College to get to and from school.
It's a track record of cooperation that will result in transit solutions.
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