Pasadena DFA Supports Gold Line Extension at 6/26 LA Metro Board Meeting

Written by: Patrick Briggs on Jul 6, 2008 12:21 AM EDT

Continuing in the spirit of keeping you all informed about some late June work that Pasadena DFA was a part of, we had a big - though unsuccessful day - on June 26th at the MTA Board Meeting in downtown LA.

On Thursday, June 26th we rode the Gold Line and met at Union Station.  Details can be found here about the event.   At this critical meeting, a revised Long Range Transportation Plan was presented to the Metro Board for adoption which we had hoped would include amendments that would lead to securing funding towards construction and operation of the Foothill Extension for the Metro Gold Line.

It was make-it or break-it time for this year seeing constuction begin on the San Gabriel Valley's long-sought Gold Line Extension light rail project.  It did not pass despite having a room half-filled with San Gabriel Valley supporters.   It did not pass despite our CA Assemblyman, Anthony Portantino being there, nor the mayors of most every city on the proposed route.

According to the Pasadena Star News:

To the chagrin of San Gabriel Valley leaders, the board of Los Angeles County's main transit agency voted Thursday to delay committing any funds to the Gold Line extension until November.

The delay means that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will miss the deadline to receive $320 million in federal funding for the project.

The MTA would have had to put up $80 million to secure those funds.

"November will be too late," said Habib Balian, chief executive officer for the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.

"We'll have to wait until next year. Local politicians have long pushed for the $400 million first phase of the 24-mile, $1.4 billion extension that could ultimately run all the way to Ontario International Airport. The project was last voted down in February, days after area politicians said it would be approved.

On Thursday, the MTA board justified the delay to November to await the results of an expected county ballot measure that would increase sales tax by a half-cent to fund transit projects. MTA estimates that the increase could raise $40 billion over 30 years.

We aren't discouraged though.  Well, maybe a little bit.  We have to feel proud though.  Pasadena DFA has been on this issue for the last 4 months and not only has made it a central part of one its monthly chapter meetings, we tabled hard in both Pasadena and Monrovia, creating public awareness on this issue. 

We are happy to report that we ALWAYS had overwhelming support from the public.  We had greatly increased traffic at our tabling actions BECAUSE this issue was a top issue.  It taught us something about the need for Democracy for America to include local issues in its agenda for building the progressive community.  People pay attention when something local affecting them directly is involved!

We can take great pride also in that we contributed to filling 1/2 that LA Metro Board room with Gold Line Extension supporters!  Thanks to everybody who has been involved in this!  We'll revisit this issue again!

Here are a few pictures from our day down there.

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Location: Pasadena, CA 91104