Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 22, 2015

5

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 22, 2015 

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY


NEW 
FOOTHILL 
GOLD LINE 
DEDICATED 
IN DUARTE

By Joan Schmidt

 Saturday, August 15 
was a VERY EXCITING 
day at 1777 Duarte Road, 
across from the City of 
Hope. The new Foothill 
Gold Line Duarte/City of 
Hope Station was dedicated. 
Although it was an 
unbearable HOT day, nearly 
400 attended, including 
Congresswoman Grace 
Napolitano, State Senator 
Carol Liu, Assemblymen 
Roger Hernandez and 
Chris Holden, LA 
County Supervisor 
Mike Antonovich, City of Hope President/ CEO Robert Stone, 
Construction Authority Vice-Chair/ Claremont Mayor Pro 
Tem Sam Pedroza, Metro CEO Phil Washington, and Metro 
Board Member/ Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian. Duarte was 
represented by its Mayor Tzeitel Paras-Caracci , and the entire 
City Council, including John Fasana a Metro and Foothill Gold 
Line Construction Authority Board Member. (Many don’t realize 
Mr. Fasana’s role in the great sound walls along the Freeway.) Also 
attending were City Manager Darrell George, Deputy City Manager 
Karen Herrera and School Board Members Reyna Diaz and Tom 
Reyes. From neighboring Monrovia- past Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, 
Mayor Pro Tem Becky Shevlin, Council Member Larry Spicer and 
City Manager Oliver Chi. (Special thanks to Habib Balian, Karen 
Herrera and Mary Ann Lutz for awesome photos.)

 All who spoke praised this on-time within- budget 
project and the leadership of the Foothill Gold Line Construction 
Authority CEO Habib Balian and his team. I can personally vouch 
for Mr. Balian’s outstanding leadership, reports on the progress of 
various phases and the accessibility to the public. For over a year 
that I attended Arcadia’s Government Forum meetings, Habib was 
there with handouts, a report and ready to answer all questions.

 Congresswoman Napolitano said, “I don’t have to tell you 
what this means to the region.” 

 Duarte Mayor Tzeitel Paras-Caracci said, “It is an important 
day for Duarte and the San Gabriel Valley…take a moment and 
stare ahead and know you are looking into the future.”

 The Metro Gold Line runs between Pasadena and East Los 
Angeles. The first phase of expansion is the almost-completed 11.5 
mile route between Pasadena and Azusa, expected to be completed 
in late September, with service beginning next year. Later this 
month and next month, stations will be dedicated in Monrovia, 
Arcadia, Irwindale and Azusa. The $950 million was funded 
entirely though LA County’s Measure R.

 The second phase of the Foothill Gold Line will extend 
service from Azusa to Montclair with stops at Glendora, San 
Dimas, La Verne, Pomona and Claremont. The $1 billion in needed 
funding for the second phase of expansion is still being sought. Once 
secured, ground could be broken on the second expansion project 
in 2017, with completion expected in 2023. Both Congresswoman 
Napolitano and Senator Lui want it extended to Ontario Airport. 

Please visit www.foothillgoldline.org for further information. 

REP. NAPOLITANO ATTENDS ROSE HILLS 
RECYCLED WATER PROJECT 

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY


(Whittier, CA) Today, Rep. Napolitano (D-El 
Monte) attended the groundbreaking ceremony 
for the final phase of the Recycled Water Project at 
Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, calling 
for more investment in recycling projects across 
the region.

 “We congratulate Rose Hills on this critical 
water recycling project which will improve water 
efficiencies during this drought and for our future,” 
Napolitano said. “Water recycling is the most cost 
effective way to improve water supply within our 
region, and we must encourage more San Gabriel 
Valley businesses to make similar investments.”;

 Upon completion of its project—targeted for Q4 
of 2015—Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary 
will use 100% recycled water for irrigation and 
landscaping maintenance. Others participating in 
the groundbreaking were Bruce Lazenby, Executive 
Director of Business Development, Rose Hills; Pat 
Monroe, President, Rose Hills; Fernando Dutra, 
Mayor, City of Whittier; Ann Heil, Section Head, 
Monitoring, Sanitation Districts of LA County; 
Sarah Rascon, Office of Assemblymember Jimmy 
Gomez; and Mike Touhey, Board President, Upper 
San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District.

 Napolitano, a strong supporter of water 
recycling projects throughout her years in 
Congress, has introduced H.R. 291, the Water 
in the 21st Century Act, which would provide 
$700 million in grants and $500 million in loans 
for water recycling, groundwater management, 
stormwater, and water infrastructure projects. 
She is the Ranking Member of the House 
Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee 
on Water Resources and Environment and a 
current member and former Ranking Member of 
the House Natural Resources Water and Power 
Subcommittee.