The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has voted to fully fund the $690 million Gold Line Foothill Extension, from Pasadena to Azusa, and to complete it by 2014, with money from Measure R. Measure R was approved by voters in the November 2008 election. It created a half-cent county sales tax intended for transportation projects. The MTA has the funding for the first phase of the Gold Line light rail to Azusa. The first phase is an 11-mile extension that includes stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa.
The 11.5 mile light rail Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa was awarded to Foothill Transit Constructors. Kiewit-Parsons, a joint venture company, will design and build the project. Funding comes from Measure R.
Gold Line Extension for the phase from Azusa to Claremont is uncertain. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board has approved asking county voters to extend the Measure R half-cent sales tax for 30 years beyond its expiration date--without a strategy to fund the Gold Line Foothill Extension to Claremont. The Gold Line's 11.5 mile Pasadena-to-Azusa segment is already funded and scheduled for completion in 2015.
Trainspotting in Arcadia. First tests of Gold Line light rail between Pasadena and Azusa start. Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension conducted the first of many clearance tests involving actual Metro Gold Line train from Sierra Madre Villa Station (in Pasadena) to Azusa. The train was a $4 million Ansaldo Breda P2250 with specialized gear to test clearances, wheel/rail interface, rail switches, and Overhead Catenary System.
The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension had a ground breaking ceremony at Newcastle Park in Arcadia, for a project that would extend the line from East Pasadena to Azusa, with stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte and Irwindale. This phase is fully funded through Measure R, the Los Angeles County half-cent sales tax increase that voters approved to fund transportation projects. Eventually the Gold Line will reach the Inland Empire.
Foothill Gold Line construction update. The Gold Line light rail from Pasadena to Azusa has now surpassed 85% complete. Overview of bridge construction, track completion, grade crossings, and train testing. Substantial completion of entire project remains on schedule for late September 2015, when the project as a whole will be turned over to Metro for pre-revenue service. Metro will decide when the line will open for passenger service.
Lack of train cars may delay the openings of the Expo Line Phase 2 from Culver City to Santa Monica and the Gold Line Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa. Metro reports delivery of rail cars won't be complete until January 2017, while construction of the extensions should be done July/August (Expo) and late September (Gold Line), of 2015. The builder of the train cars is Kinkisharyo International, a Japanese company that is assembling the light rail trains in Palmdale, California. The Expo Line needs 42 cars and the Gold Line needs 15.
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension moves ahead. Contractor Kiewit Parsons is given full "notice to proceed" to build the 11.5 mile route for the light rail train from Pasadena to Azusa, with a stop in Arcadia, by a planned 2015 completion date.
Riders head to Pasadena, not Los Angeles. Ridership on the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension is surpassing expectations. The east Pasadena to Azusa/Glendora extension, which opened March 5 is carrying 4000-5000 riders on weekdays and 3800 to 4000 on Saturday and Sunday. 18 percent of the riders from Arcadia Station went to Pasadena. Other rider statistics are given.
All aboard: Arcadia gets into training. The Metro Gold Line Station in Arcadia will have a grand opening on Saturday, March 5. The light rail Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa will be offering free rides on March 5.
Gold Line construction moving forward on schedule. First Avenue in Arcadia to open by the end of March. See hard copy VF "Railroads-Light Rail-Metro Gold Line."
Train testing underway throughout summer along the Foothill Gold Line light rail project from Pasadena to Azusa. Testing is currently taking place in Duarte and portions of Irwindale, and will expand to the cities of Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia and Azusa over the next several months.
All 14 at-grade rail crossings now complete for Foothill Gold Line, from Pasadena to Azusa. The at-grade crossing in Arcadia is at First Avenue and Santa Clara Street.
Elected officials from San Gabriel Valley foothill cities are angry after being told the second phase of the Gold Line Extension project (from Azusa to Claremont) will be given zero dollars from Measure R, despite an aggressive funding plan for other projects in Los Angeles, as proposed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA staff wants to make permanent Measure R--the half cent sales tax passed by voters in 2008 that expires in 2039--to fund a list of transportation projects across the southland.
Local transit authorities are preparing to move forward with the Gold Line Foothill Extension to the Azusa-Glendora border and local cities are planning to place residential and commercial developments along the line. Those developments are intended to prepare for future population growth. The first phase of the extension is slated to be completed by 2014, adding new stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa. Some plans near those stops could be scaled back due to the down economy. Arcadia officials are looking to build commercial developments centered on a planned station just east of Santa Anita Avenue. Arcadia's challenge will be land acquisition. Because Arcadia has ordinances limiting the use of eminent domain, Arcadia officials have to rely on negotiating land deals, a difficult process with limited redevelopment funds.
Mass transit riders take preview run on 11.5 mile Gold Line Foothill extension from is current terminus at Sierra Madre Villa Station (in Pasadena) to the six new stations to the east, including Arcadia Station, Monrovia Station, Duarte Station, Irwindale Station, Downtown Azusa Station, and Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College Station. The new rail cars are stainless steel, made by Kinkisharyo, Model P3010.
Four day full closure of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue intersection in Arcadia begins Friday, August 8, for Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail construction.
Gold Line construction extends closure of Colorado Boulevard for another three weeks, until the third week of May, due to underground utility work. See hard copy in VF Railroads-Light Rail-Gold Line.
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority announced that structural work is complete for Gold Line Bridge over Interstate 210 Freeway. "The bridge can now stand on its own," said Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian. The bridge is a 584-linear foot, $18.6 million rail bridge that helps extend the Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa, in this first segment.