Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, April 28, 2018

SECTION B

SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2018

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

APRIL’S GREAT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

AND A SPECIAL VISITOR

STATE FUNDS APPROVED FOR METRO GOLD LINE 
FOOTHILL EXTENSION AND ORANGE/RED LINE 
TO GOLD LINE BUS CONNECTOR


Pasadena, CA – State funds were approved for 
the Metro Gold line Foothill Extension and 
Orange/Red Line to Gold Line Bus Connector. 
Both projects are expected benefit the foothill 
communities and the Greater Los Angeles Area. 
These projects have been approved to receive 
grants from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital 
Program (TIRCP), which receives its funding 
from both the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund 
and Senate Bill 1.

 “When we connect communities, everyone 
thrives,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden, 
Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on 
Regional Transportation Solutions. “Increasing 
public transportation options will reduce 
global warming pollution, promote economic 
development, create healthier communities, and 
- for those riding the new bus and rails lines - an 
enjoyable commute. I want to thank CalTrans for 
their work and assistance in continuing to move 
forward the goals of the region and increasing 
sustainable connectivity.”

 The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension 
would extend the Gold 12.3 miles from Azusa to 
Montclair. The Metro Orange/Red Line to Gold 
Line Bus Rapid Transit Corridor is a 17.3 mile 
new dedicated rapid bus route that creates a key 
regional connection between the San Fernando 
Valley and San Gabriel Valley.

 Assemblymember Holden played an instrumental 
role in bringing the Gold Line to the San Gabriel 
Valley and has since championed the Gold Line 
Extension. This legislative session, Holden has 
supported grant funding requests to CalTrans 
from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan 
Transportation Authority, Metro Gold Line Foothill 
Extension Construction Authority, and the San 
Bernardino County Transportation Authority for 
both the Gold Line Bus Connectors and the Gold 
Line Foothill Extension.


By Joan Schmidt

 April’s Monrovia Arcadia Duarte’s Town Council 
Meeting was great-it had a good attendance and 
much information was given. In addition, we had a 
visit from Arcadia’s Mayor Peter Amundson.

 If any reader doesn’t know what the Monrovia 
Arcadia Duarte Town Council is, here goes: It one of 
several Town Councils in the Fifth District, founded 
in 1993. We are volunteer, 501 C3, but we are the 
Liaison between our 18,000+ residents and the 
Sheriff’s Department and various county agencies. 
We were founded to bring the community together 
and improve the quality of life. We fought to keep 
Pamela Park, and both the Live Oak and Duarte 
Libraries open. We also facilitated the Monrovia 
Transit System serving the unincorporated areas. 
Residents attend meetings, voice their concerns, and 
various agencies are contacted as needed to assist. 
Oftentimes, their issues are addressed immediately 
as the Sheriff’s Department, Supervisor Barger 
and CHP have representatives in attendance. We 
meet once a month and rotate locations: May 15: 
Annunciation Church Hall, 1307 E. Longden Ave., 
Arcadia; June 20, Pamela Park, 2238 Goodall Ave., 
Duarte; July 17, All Nations Church, 1948 Peck 
Road, Monrovia.

 At our April meeting, we were given the monthly 
crime stats from LASD, introduced CHP Officer 
Tony Chen now assigned to our “MAD” area, and 
received news/updates from Pamela Park (Sam 
Estrada), the Live Oak (Denise Dilley) and Duarte 
(Joanna Gee)Libraries and the YMCA (Erik Boyd). 
In addition Sheree Johnson spoke of the dangers 
of E-Cigarettes-especially where our youths are 
concerned. Residents had complaints about parking 
issues and Officer Chen has spoken with Plymouth 
School regarding the traffic.

 Our surprise visitor Arcadia Mayor Amundson 
came and said after listening to retired Supervisor 
Mike Antonovich’s praise of the Town Council at 
his Mayor’s Breakfast/ State of the City, he had to 
attend a meeting! He was very impressed with the 
great turnout and questions and answers. Hope 
to see you at our May meeting at Annunciation 
Church Hall, 1307 E. Longden Ave., Arcadia. Bring 
a friend!

FOOTHILL GOLD LINE TO RECEIVE 
APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION TO COMPLETE 
GLENDORA TO MONTCLAIR EXTENSION

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) 
today announced 28 recipients for more than $2.6 
billion dollars in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital 
Program (TIRCP) grants for transformative transit 
and rail projects. CalSTA is also providing additional 
funding for seven critical projects through multi-year 
funding agreements, bringing the total awarded to 
over $4.3 billion.

 TIRCP funding is provided through Senate Bill 1 (SB 
1) and from the proceeds of the Cap and Trade program. 
The program provides major benefits towards meeting 
the State’s climate and air quality goals, with a total 
reduction of more than 32 million tons of greenhouse 
gas emissions.

 “These zero emission bus and rail projects mean 
millions of tons less pollution in the air we breathe,” said 
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.

 “The projects selected for this round of Transit and 
Intercity Rail Capital Program grants make great strides 
in helping California transform the state transportation 
system,” said CalSTA Secretary Brian Annis. “This 
investment of SB1 revenue and Cap and Trade dollars 
will help us reduce harmful emissions, expand mobility 
options and create jobs statewide.”

 This multi-year funding program provides project 
funding for 28 projects, with a total cost exceeding 
$18 billion. These projects will provide significant 
benefits to Californians through expanded transit and 
rail offerings that are faster, more frequent, and more 
reliable.

 Pivotal Improvements for Southern California 
Region –Investment is focused on critical projects to 
prepare Los Angeles and the Southern California region 
for the 2028 Olympic Games with 6 major LA Metro 
expansion projects receiving funding including light rail 
extensions to Torrance and Montclair and additional 
rapid transit service along congested corridors. 
Additional funding to go towards improving regional 
commuter and intercity rail to make Pacific Surfliner 
and Metrolink services faster and more reliable through 
major investments including track improvements at Los 
Angeles Union Station.

 TIRCP is also funded through the Cap and Trade 
Program’s auction proceeds and its Greenhouse Gas 
Reduction Fund. The Cap-and-Trade Program is one of 
many programs developed under AB 32 to fight climate 
change. It is designed to reduce greenhouse gases from 
the largest sources of emission in California, and to 
drive innovation and steer the State toward a clean 
energy economy. For more information on California’s 
Climate Initiatives: http://www.caclimateinvestments.
ca.gov/energy-efficiency-clean-energy/.

Jan Greteman626.975.4033Jan@JanGreteman.comJanGreteman.com#01943630Judy Webb-Martin626.688.2273Judy.Webb-Martin@podley.com#00541631 
Katie Orth626.688.0418 
KatieO@podley.com#00942500 
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