View From the Operator’s Cab: Gold Line Foothill Extension

Feb. 18, 2016
The 11.5-mile extension to Azusa opens on Saturday, March 5..

The Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa (Pasadena to Azusa) broke ground on June 26, 2010 and was completed on time and on budget on September 23, 2015. At that time, the 11.5-mile, six-station extension was turned over to Metro for pre-revenue service. Pre-revenue service is an important phase when Metro continues to commission new vehicles, train their operators and local first responders and educate the community on staying safe near the train. Metro has stated they anticipate opening the Pasadena to Azusa segment stations for passenger service on March 5, 2016.

The extension adds six new stations in the cities of Arcadia,Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, and Azusa. The city of Azusa has two stations – one at Alameda Avenue, in downtown; and one at Citrus Avenue, near Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University (the Pasadena to Azusa terminus). To allow connection between the existing Sierra Madre Villa Station in East Pasadena and the future Arcadia Station, a new 584-linear-foot bridge was constructed over the eastbound lanes of the I-210 Freeway. The Gold Line Bridgereplaces the one removed after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Parking is planned at each station of the Pasadena to Azusa Extension.

The Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa was built along the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) right-of-way, purchased by Metro for the project in the early 1990s. This extension was fully funded by LA County’s Measure R.

Read more at http://www.foothillgoldline.org/construction_phases/pasadena_to_azusa/