Supporters celebrate Metro Gold Line

Attendees were all aboard at the kick-off celebration was held at the historic Santa Fe Train Depot in Monrovia, the future site of the Monrovia Gold Line Station on, Saturday, Nov. 21.

Elected officials and community members gathered in honor of the recently approved Metro Long Range Transportation Plan, which will bring a light rail to Citrus College and eventually all the way to Ontario Airport.

Congresswoman Judy Chu was there, as well as congressman David Dreier, who served as the “conductor” of a miniature train, driving participants around a portion of the parking lot as part of the festivities.

Many enjoyed popcorn, hot dogs and cotton candy provided free to the public.

The ceremony acknowledged the start of the construction of Phase 2A of the Gold Line Extension from Pasadena to Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, and Azusa.

Construction is expected to start early next year and be completed in 2013.

“We have locked in $851 million to build this extension along the Foothill area; that’s something we should all be proud of,” Metro Board Chair Ara Najarian said.
Citrus College Board of Trustee member Joanne Montgomery was on site, celebrating on behalf of Citrus College for all of the time and effort spent to make the Foothill Extension possible for the students, faculty and staff.

“I am very excited to be here. We worked very hard…It’s going to be wonderful with our new student services building. It’s going to be right there, the Gold Line, and we’re all going to have access,” Montgomery said.

The extension not only beneifits the community by creating another mode of transportation and helping to relieve traffic congestion, but it also serves students along the proposed line, reaching at least 14 colleges.

Citrus College board of trustees member Edward C. Ortell, Ph.D., calls it the “Brain Train”. 

“We at Metro are looking forward to working with the construction authority, to continue the momentum of this… and create the world-class system that we know is within reach for the entire county,” Najarian said.

Phase 2A is just one part of the bigger picture, there is yet to look forward to in the future such as the completion of Phase 2B from Azusa to Montclair, and further extension to the Ontario Airport.

So far it’s “All Aboard” for the Gold Line Extension.