12-year old Kyrsti Chavez from Arcadia, will be singing the National Anthem for the Metro Orange Line Extension opening on Friday, June 29, in Chatsworth.
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.
About 1000 feet of sound walls will be built by the westbound lanes of the 210 Foothill Freeway between Second Avenue and Fifth Avenue. There is also discussion of future sound wall construction projects.
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.
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.
An 8-foot tall bronze tribute to Arcadia's official bird, the peacock, will be unveiled August 5, as part of the city's centennial celebration. The statue will be located in the fountain at Peacock Corner, in the front of Arcadia County Park, at the southwest corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. The sculptor of the peacock is Dave Chapple and the sculpture cost $30,000.
Arcadia attorney, former mayor Jim Helms, receives "Business Icon" Award from Arcadia Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Hettrick and Arcadia Historical Society President Gene Glasco for his dedicated work as an attorney since 1952. Jim is also a former Mayor of Arcadia (1971-1972), Arcadia Chamber President and Arcadia Citizen of the Year 1979 and 2004.
The Arcadia Board of Education has adopted a resolution opposing SB 1419, which would limit the authority of school boards to contract out for services. The bill is on the governor's desk for signature or veto. The bill would restrict districts from using personal services contracts if the duties can be performed by district employees.
The Arcadia Board of Education will study the environmental impact of new uses and the addition of lights at Dana and First Avenue Middle schools and the Arcadia High School softball field.
The Arcadia city budget of $35.8 million for the 2003-2004 fiscal year was unveiled and will be the subject of a public hearing June 14. City Manager Bill Kelly called the spending program "flat line," with only 1.5 new city jobs in the coming year. Kelly said Arcadia is protected from possible cuts to meet state budget uncertainties because of $6 million in reserves, which were earmarked but never spent in a previous budget. The city is safe for at least the next two budget years.
The Arcadia city council endorsed the construction of the second phase of the Gold Line as a light rail transit system. Grade level of the major street crossings was discussed.
The Arcadia City Council has approved in concept a proposal for a Joint Powers Agreement with ten other cities to cooperate on extending the Gold Line to Claremont.
The Arcadia City Council has approved increasing the funding and total service hours for the Arcadia Transit System. The transit program is funded through federal, state and local money distributed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Arcadia City Council member Sho Tay aims to bridge city's cultural gap between Chinese immigrants and Caucasians. Tay says there are three distinct batches of Chinese immigrants. The first came from Taiwan in the 1980s and went to college here. The second came from Hong Kong after Tiananmen Square, and the third, most recent, batch is from mainland China. They came with wealth.
Arcadia City Council postpones decision on 1217 Mayflower Avenue home construction project. Scott Yang of Figure 8 Group Inc. seeks to replace a one-story 988 square foot ranch style house built in 1923 with a 5046 square foot home in the "modern" architectural style. In June, Planning Commission denied Yang's project.
Arcadia commuters fed up with gridlock at First Avenue at the Gold Line Station, since trains started running through Arcadia in March 2016. City engineers are aware of the problems and public's frustration and looking at ways to improve the signals and wait times.