WASHINGTON, DC - Due to votes on the House Floor today, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) regrets that he is unable to attend the Grand Opening of the Metro Gold Line in Pasadena. Rep. Schiff issued the following statement in honor of the opening ceremony:
"The long-awaited opening day of the Metro Gold Line in Pasadena is finally here. We've all worked very hard to see this day come and I only regret that my congressional duties have kept me from attending the Grand Opening in person. The opening of the Gold Line could not have happened without the tireless efforts of the entire community, the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Construction Authority, the MTA and my legislative colleagues in Sacramento and in Washington, DC.
The commencement of the Gold Line will not only ease traffic congestion and lessen commute times, but it will benefit the environment and enrich the quality of life for the tens of thousands of community residents who rely heavily on public transportation.
When I was in the State Senate, I authored the bill to expedite the construction of the Gold Line by establishing the Pasadena Metro Blue Line Construction Authority - an entity specifically designated for designing and building the Gold Line. We knew if we were successful, we could not only improve traffic flow for our region, but provide a model for the rest of the state on how to deliver cost-effective transportation projects. Now that the Gold Line is opening on-time and under-budget, world-class mass transit is here.
The Gold Line is expected to carry between 26,000-32,000 passengers each day. That's 2.6 million fewer car trips each year, 35.6 million fewer miles driven each year and 173,000 fewer pounds of pollution in our breathable air each year. The new rail line will jumpstart our local economy by linking Southern Californians and tourists to a host of local attractions here in our community and along the Metro Rail Line."
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.