Testing of Gold Line light rail cars began on Monday. It passed over the newly built bridge on Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, December 11, 2014.
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.
First Avenue at Santa Clara Street in Arcadia closed September 9, 2013 through February, 2014 for construction of grade crossing improvements, as part of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project in Arcadia. Also, to construct the parking structure and transit plaza adjacent to the crossing, Front Street between Santa Clara Street and Saint Joseph Street, will be permanently closing in September.
Arcadia Transit Plaza dedication ceremony held November 6, 2014. It is located at 99 Santa Clara Street, at First Avenue, where the Gold Line Station in Arcadia is being built. It will serve as a transportation hub and a gathering space for the community. Many VIPs attended (photos).
The abandoned rail bridge over Colorado Boulevard in Arcadia will be removed because it could not accommodate the two-track light rail system and the Gold Line Construction Authority determined it was more efficient and cost effective to remove the structure than to widen it or add a second structure directly adjacent to the ole one. Bridge demolition was the first significant construction effort for Foothill Transit Constructors (FTC) and the alignment project. The Construction Authority will have three open houses in the next two weeks to update the community.
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 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.
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.
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."
Gold Line extension may be contributing factor in Arcadia homeless population. Arcadia is seeing a drastic increase in homeless compared to recent years, specifically in Downtown Arcadia and Arcadia County Park, largely due to the Gold Line light rail extension that opened in early 2016 with a stop in Arcadia. Arcadia Police Department has seen a 46% increase in transient calls to deal with in 2017, compared to 2016.
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.
Closures of southbound Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia starting July 6 for approximately 2 weeks. Crews will be installing underground duct banks and electrical vaults as part of the 11.5 mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Light Rail project.
Metro adds Gold Line service. Every train will run from Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College to East Los Angeles. Due to unprecedented demand, the Gold Line will run every seven minutes during peak morning and afternoon hours on weekdays. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 2, June 30, 2016 "LA Metro improves Gold Line; relieves crowding for SGV communities."
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.
Gold Line construction will cause closure of intersection of First Avenue and Santa Clara Street for six months starting tomorrow. Front Street between Santa Clara Street and Saint Joseph Street will be permanently closing in September for the building of a parking structure and transit plaza on that site.
Metro responds to concerns over paid parking at Arcadia Gold Line Station. It costs $3 to park there but it had been free. Now that there is a cost to parking at Arcadia Station, there are more open spaces and this was Metro's anticipated and desired effect.
Arcadia wrestles with homeless issue. Metro Gold Line is seen as factor by some in the growing numbers camping nearby. In 2016, the Arcadia Station of Metro Gold Line opened and police began seeing a marked increase in calls for service regarding homelessness, said Sergeant Dan Crowther.
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.
Metro amps up security to protect Arcadia, Monrovia and Pasadena public transportation residents. Metro has added local Los Angeles Police Department law enforcement to patrol the rail and bus lines.
The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority opened bidding yesterday on Phase 2A of the light rail's extension toward Azusa, which would make a stop in Arcadia. The project is estimated to cost more than $450 million with a completion date in 2017. Measure R guarantees full funding for the Gold Line Extension minus a gap of $500,000. With possible help from a private investment, the completion could be moved up to 2013.