RAILforum: GOLD LINE PROBABLY WILL OPEN JULY 26TH

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Posted by metrolinkvalleysub (Member # 2257) on :

Here's the press release from the MTA website, and thanks to Roberto from the Expo board for posting it there.

<<"MTA Poised to Open the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold Line to the Public on Saturday, July 26

Metro Gold Line Adds 13.7-Miles to Metro Rail System

Pending final approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), MTA is poised to open to the public the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold Line on Saturday, July 26. The new light rail line spans 13.7 miles linking Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and Sierra Madre Villa in East Pasadena via Chinatown, Highland Park, South Pasadena and Pasadena.

“Mobility throughout the region is about to get kicked up a notch with the opening of the Metro Gold Line,” said MTA Board Chairman Hal Bernson. “Expanding the Metro Rail and Metro Bus system has been one of my top priorities and the addition of the Metro Gold Line will greatly enhance travel opportunities, relieve traffic congestion and improve the quality of life for those commuting between Pasadena and Los Angeles.”

The opening of the Metro Gold Line expands Metro Rail to 73.1-miles. The Metro Gold Line joins two existing light rail lines (Metro Blue and Green Lines) and a subway (Metro Red Line) that crisscross portions of Los Angeles County from Long Beach to Los Angeles, Redondo Beach, Norwalk, Hollywood, Universal City, North Hollywood as well as Pasadena.

“The Metro Gold Line has been a long awaited project and with its opening will link communities to the rest of the Metro Rail system by providing a real transportation alternative,” said L.A. County Supervisor and MTA Board Member Gloria Molina. “Early next year we hope to break ground extending the Gold Line from Union Station to East Los Angeles.”

In the first year of operation, the Metro Gold Line is expected to carry between 26,000 and 32,000 average weekday boarding passengers. Cost of the system including rail cars and various improvements to the line is estimated at $859 million.

“The Gold Line is a vital link in the County’s multi-modal transportation system – efficiently serving the needs of commuters in Los Angeles, Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, South Pasadena and Pasadena,” said L.A. County Supervisor and MTA Board Member Michael Antonovich.

The 13.7-mile Metro Gold Line has 13 stations and will operate every 10 minutes on weekdays during peak morning and afternoon rush hours. Trains will then operate every 12-minute during the mid-day and every 20-minutes during the late night hours. On the weekends, early morning and late night trains will operate every 20 minutes. Midday service until approximately 7 p.m. will operate every 12 minutes. The hours of operation will be from 3:35 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

“Rain or shine, commuters using the Metro Gold Line can expect to get from East Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles and vice versa in approximately 36 minutes without the traffic hassles of the Pasadena and 210 Freeways,” said MTA CEO Roger Snoble.

Fares for the Metro Gold line will be the same as all MTA operated Metro Bus and Metro Rail trains costing just $1.35 one-way (cash) or 90 cents using a pre-purchased discount token. Monthly passes good for unlimited travel are $42.

The Metro Gold Line will use 26 state-of-the-art rail cars. Each rail car costs $3.75 million. Each train car seats 76 passengers. During rush hours, the scheduled capacity for each car is a total of 144 passengers including standees. When service starts, MTA expects to utilize 39 full-time train operators and two part-time operators. MTA plans to operate two car trains on the Metro Gold Line.

The Metro Gold Line was constructed by the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Blue Line Construction Authority. Testing of the system was turned over to the MTA in mid-April. MTA plans to conduct extensive pre-revenue testing up to the public opening on July 26.

With the addition of the Metro Gold Line, MTA’s Metro Rail system spans many communities and extends the reach of millions of Southern Californians and tourists to a host of “must see” attractions located within walking distance of many Metro Rail stations.

In Pasadena for example, patrons using the new Metro Gold Line can easily access various shopping districts, parks, Pasadena City College, California Institute of Technology, Huntington Library and Gardens, various hotels, business centers, Colorado Boulevard, Old Pasadena, Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena Museum of History, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena Jazz Institute, the Ice House and Playhouse District.

Additional points of interest along the Metro Gold Line corridor include Paseo Colorado Shopping Center, Pasadena City Hall, and Civic Auditorium, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Meridian Ironworks Museum, Carnegie Library, Arroyo Seco Regional Library, Highland Park Recreation Center, Highland Theater, Southwest Museum, Heritage Museum Square, Rock Rose Gallery, Broadway Historic Business District in Lincoln Heights, Chinatown, Olvera Street and Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

From there, a quick transfer to the Metro Red Line subway is your ticket to unlimited adventures exploring downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Universal City or the North Hollywood Arts District. Or perhaps a ride on the Metro Blue Line will take patrons to sporting events at Staples Center, Watts Towers, or downtown Long Beach for a visit to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, or take the Metro Green Line to LAX, Norwalk, or Redondo Beach.

Many Metro Bus improvements also have been made in the San Gabriel Valley to better serve the Metro Gold Line providing direct bus service to various stations along the alignment.

In addition parking is available around some Metro Gold Line stations including a 1,000 space parking structure adjacent to the Sierra Madre Villa Metro Gold Line station in East Pasadena. In downtown Los Angeles at Union Station approximately 1,100 paid parking spaces are available. Limited parking spaces are provided at Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park station (100), Heritage Square/Arroyo station (145), Fillmore station (160), and the Del Mar Station (600). In addition, MTA is working to secure some parking adjacent to the Lake Avenue station.

This latest expansion of the Metro Rail system will give transit dependent, commuters, tourists and others easy and convenient access to major job centers, government, schools, hospitals, shopping, sports, entertainment and cultural venues throughout Los Angeles County.

For more details about the Metro Rail and Metro Bus system, including access to an interactive trip planner, check out MTA’s web site at www.mta.net or call 1-800-C-O-M-M-U-T-E.">>

David MP 15.06 SCRRA Valley Sub

Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :

This is quite good news. Can't open too soon IMHO.

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

Glad to hear it. One of the more interesting features of the line is the Arroyo Seco bridge. And, it's great to see a double track rail line return to the old Sante Fe right of way...