Comments on: Sneak Peak at Potential Gold Line Phase II Extensions

By: Gold Line Blogger

Gold Line Blogger — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:02:00 +0000

We agree that if the Gold Line Foothill Extension to Monclair is completed, commuters will find it is a wonderful alternative to their cars. The route will run by more than 10 colleges/universities and $43 billion in development is planned for the corridor. The ridership numbers from those campuses and new development will be significant. Unfortunately, Metro has yet to include the Gold Line Foothill Extension in its Long-Range Transportation Plan, and that is a travesty because unlike higher profile ideas planned for west of downtown LA, the Gold Line Foothill Extension can be completed within 4 years.

The last day for public comments to be put on the record for Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan is April 25th . It so happens that the Metro board meets that day before. So, if you are interested in voicing your opinion on what should be on Metro’s LRTP attend the April 24th Metro board meeting at Metro headquarters, 1 Gateway Plaza, adjacent to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. To join us on the train from Sierra Madre Villa Station in Pasadena on April 24th please call us at 626-305-7026 or RSVP at lmanning@foothillextension.com.

-Commenting on behalf of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority

By: Dan W.

Dan W. — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:40:04 +0000

Whittier is a natural extension of the Southern leg of the Gold Line, so go for it.

But the northern end to Montclair and the Southern End to Whittier shouldn't be on the same leg.

Maybe it's time to move away from color coding and use letters or numbers or names or something creative.

By: Jerard

Jerard — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:12:31 +0000

The 60 freeway corridor may be a path of least resistance but it's also one of least ridership because east of the Montebello Mall, ridership drops significantly.

The TOD developments next to the freeway and large regional parks will have to combat against the ashtma, CO2 and other wonderful air particles living next to a freeway provides not to mention the environmental clearences to even start building those homes next to a freeway or on County park property.

On the surface the 60 Corridor and it provides access to Whittier Narrows Park. Sure it's a large regional park but do we really think it'll be wise to build something in an area that has no support, potential for density and possibly routing through the shooting range zone that is IN Whittier Narrows Park.

Within the existing East LA Gold Line will have at least 4 parks right next to the line! 2 of them are larger than some within West LA.
Sure this extension can frame the romantic notion of connect some folks to the park but there's not much there nor in the future and the issues of bad air right next to the freeway pose serious health dangers to the future developments which going by the Green Line standards will be nothing more than strip malls with thick toxic moats of asphalt. Not to mention the existing residents along the under construction East LA Gold Line are already connected to large urban green spaces, look at a map and you'll see.

By: guayaba

guayaba — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:16:37 +0000

Light rail along the 60 is a great idea. I think a lot of people in San Gabriel Valley would use transit if Metro could build the Gold Line Foothill and Phase II extensions.

By: Tim Buchheim

Tim Buchheim — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:06:07 +0000

The routes which go to Whittier seem like very logical routes to me. That part of LA county could certainly use light rail service. That being said, I would like to a see a separate rail line parallel to I-10 at some point, to provide an alternative to the El Monte Busway, which has gotten slower as it has been opened up to more carpoolers. (see the wikipedia article on the El Monte Busway for the details of the failed carpool experiment)