Celebrating 10 Years of Passenger Service Between Union Station and Pasadena on the Gold Line
Last Friday, July 26, 2013, the Construction Authority hosted a celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of passenger service between Union Station and Pasadena on the Gold Line. More than 100 people attended the event, which took place at the Del Mar Station.
Congresswoman Judy Chu, State Assemblyman Chris Holden, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, Claremont Councilman Sam Pedroza, and former Los Angeles Councilman Ed Reyes were among the numerous speakers during the event, which was emceed by Construction Authority board chairman Doug Tessitor. A statement was also read by Congressman Adam Schiff.
Each speaker discussed the many benefits the Gold Line has brought to the region, including economic development, jobs, long-term changes to the framework of the cities it connects, and most importantly changes to the way people travel. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich noted that ridership now exceeds 44,000 boardings each weekday, surpassing ridership on the Green Line which opened for service in 1995 (eight years ahead of the Gold Line). Additionally, Metro board members Michael Antonovich, Glendale Councilman Ara Najarian and Duarte Councilman John Fasana discussed the importance of completing the line to Montclair and then Ontario Airport. The three committed themselves to working together to get the funding for the next half of the Foothill Extension.
It was a wonderful event that highlighted the continuing support and consensus found throughout this corridor for the Gold Line and its future extensions. We would like to thank all of the officials, their staffs, the Construction Authority board members and the many community members that took time out of their day to help us celebrate this important achievement for the region.
If you missed it, here is a story that ran in the Pasadena Star-News. We encourage you to look at the photo gallery (there is a link in the story). Here are links to other stories written about the event on The Source, Glendora Patch, South  Pasadena Review, and Curbed LA.
We also encourage you to take three minutes to watch a video of Gold Line users discussing what the line has meant to them over the last decade and what they have to say to future riders from the Foothill Extension cities. It will certainly put a smile on your face and remind you why we are all working so hard to continue this line further east (just click on the image to the right or link above):
Construction Highlights: Azusa Ave Reopened to Traffic on Monday, July 29
Work is underway throughout the 11.5-mile corridor. Below is just a quick highlight of some current construction activities:
Azusa
Extensive work on the at-grade street crossing (pictured above) at Azusa Avenue is now substantially complete and the street re-opened for pedestrian and vehicular traffic earlier this week. Additionally, crews continue work on the at-grade street crossings at Pasadena Avenue and are beginning work at San Gabriel Avenue.
Earlier this month, the freight track was relocated to its new placement over Citrus Avenue. In August, the same will occur at Palm Drive. Once completed at Palm Drive, the freight track will have been successfully relocated between downtown Azusa and the city of Glendora. An important achievement.
Irwindale
Over the last several months, crews have made significant progress on the longest of the two dozen bridges being built or modified as part of the Foothill Extension project - the 700-foot long San Gabriel River Bridge. The new bridge will accommodate the dual-track light rail system, which must cross the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale to connect the future Duarte and Irwindale stations.
Earlier this month, crews completed installation of 21, 100-foot-long concrete girders atop the recently completed piers and abutments. It took several days to place the 100,000 pound girders, as shown in the progress shots below:
With this important milestone now complete, the bridge structure is on schedule to be completed during the dry season, as is required by the United States Army Corp of Engineers and Los Angeles County Flood Control District. The next step will be to install the bridge deck.
Monrovia and Duarte
Work at the Monrovia and Duarte Gold Line Stations continues; as does construction of a number of at-grade street crossing. The first phase of the Buena Vista Street crossing work will be complete later this week, and the street will re-open to traffic. Partial lane closures on Buena Vista Street and Duarte Road will be in place until the end of August when the work at the intersection and crossing will be complete.
Additionally, work continues at the California Avenue grade crossing, and is anticipated to be completed by the end of September. Third party utility companies are out on Mountain Avenue relocating utilities over the next several months.
Arcadia
Work on the Santa Anita Bridge is on schedule and progressing well. The abutment walls are nearing completion, and at the end of August crews will transition to the second phase of work. Additionally, work on the Arcadia Gold Line Station platform is underway.
How can you stay updated, with so much going on? Check our interactive construction activity maps regularly:
Here are a few other easy ways to stay updated:
Drop by one of our three public information offices:
Arcadia
400 N Santa Anita Ave, Suite 101-B, Arcadia, CA 91006
(Northeast corner of Santa Anita Ave. and La Porte St.)
Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays ONLY: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monrovia
406 E. Huntington Drive, Suite 202, Monrovia, CA 91016
(Construction Authority Offices)
Hours: Mondays through Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Azusa
1300 W. Optical Drive, Suite 500, Azusa, CA 91702
Hours: Mondays through Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Other Community Resources Include:
Other Community Resources Include:
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