Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that $650,000 is included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill for the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority to secure NEPA environmental clearance to start phase 2B of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension. The Authority has already secured environmental clearance for phase 2A, construction of which broke ground on June 26.
“The 29th Congressional District encompasses some of the fastest-growing communities in Los Angeles County, and we need to build the infrastructure to accommodate the growth in our region,” Rep. Schiff said. “Best of all, this project will create jobs and spur much-needed economic activity in our communities.”
The Foothill Extension Light Rail Transit Project (LRT) Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) plan and design expands the Metro Gold Line LRT approximately 24 miles east of the City of Pasadena to the City of Montclair. The extension starts at Sierra Madre Villa station in Pasadena and connects the downtown areas of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, and Azusa in phase 2A; and Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair in phase 2B.
“Congressman Schiff has been a visionary on this project for more than a decade, and we are grateful for his continued support,” said Habib Balian, CEO of the Construction Authority. “Communities all along the corridor have been waiting for this funding and are eagerly awaiting the commencement of construction on phase 2B of this project. This funding will allow the project to complete the last step in the process, and readies it for funding and then construction.”
Phase 2B of the Foothill Extension will extend the LRT line nearly 12 miles, and include construction of 6 stations and associated parking facilities. In addition, the Foothill Extension will widen existing bridge structures to accommodate three tracks, construct about 30 at-grade crossings with gate protection, as well as an extension of the existing Metro Gold Line Phase I power, signaling and communications systems.