Politics & Government

Gold Line Authority Urges Metro to Make Foothill Extension a Priority

The Gold Line Foothill Extension project needs to fill a massive budget gap and is urging Metro to include the project in Measure R planning.

As the Metro Board considers making amendments to the Measure R Expenditure Plan, Gold Line Construction Authority leaders urged the board to “stop making excuses” and start including the light rail project from Pasadena to Montclair in their plans.

Foothill Extension Board Chair Doug Tessitor and Vice Chair Sam Pedroza wrote a letter published in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune urging the Metro Board to acknowledge a portion of the extension project still unfunded, the portion from the Azusa/Glendora border to Montclair.  An additional $950 million is needed to complete the project, according to their letter.

Their letter states:

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“The unfortunate message is clear - Metro is committed to completing all Measure R projects, with the exception of the Foothill Extension to Claremont; and without Metro's commitment to completing the project, funding the line to Claremont will be all but impossible.”

Metro has asked voters to extend the county tax, and with federal grants and loans and assistance from the private sector, several transportation projects have benefited. However, the rest of the Foothill Extension project remains off the list.

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“During the amendment process, we are hopeful that Metro will acknowledge the true cost to complete the Foothill Extension project as prescribed by law; and update the Expenditure Plan accordingly,” Project CEO Habib Balian said in an e-mail statement.


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