Comments on: San Gabriel Valley Pols Seek Compromise on I-210 Congestion Plan

By: Damien Newton

Damien Newton — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:49:43 +0000

As I understand it, the Gold Line extension is on the "unfunded" list of Metro's draft LRTP. If the half cent sales tax proposal is placed on the ballot and passes, it gets funded. If it doesn't, then there will be a food fight at the November Metro Board meeting. That's why I find the posturing of the SGV folks so confusing. Just get behind the sales tax proposal and they'll get what they want. If they continue to be obstructionist then I doubt the Metro Board is going to move their proposal up the list.

By: Wad

Wad — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:36:35 +0000

Brayj, the answer is let's wait and see.

I see compelling arguments for and against getting the Gold Line extended. It can really go either way.

This is an interesting case, because Metro's bureaucrats have serious misgivings about the Gold Line extension. By the numbers, it is saying that the Gold Line will have a really low boarding density that will bring down the systemwide average. Even the Pasadena route that exists now -- the meat and potatoes of the line -- has badly underperformed.

The big worry is if Metro has to put in an application to the Federal Transit Administration and it comes back stamped with a "not recommended."

By: ubrayj02

ubrayj02 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:20:27 +0000

Wait, I'm confused (really) when will the Gold Line be extended into the San Gabriel Valley into Monrovia? A lot of transit geeks have been saying bad things about this proposal - but having biked alongside the Metrolink right of way this past week, I think some of their criticism is unfair.

Would this back room compromise ensure that the Gold Line gets extended?

By: Wad

Wad — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:26:17 +0000

I wrote about this in an earlier Gloria Romero post. If there's any clue that politicians are just punching the clock on transportation, this was the case. It's really funny that Metro has to buy high-capacity buses for the Harbor Freeway. To let you in on the punchline: The Harbor Transitway has the usage where you can fit every bus passenger and the driver into a roadster.