Habib Balian at Gold Line extension groundbreaking in June, 2010 - News Net file photo
Op-Ed posted 8/28/12 – Earlier today (Monday, 8/27/12) Governor Brown signed AB1600 into law, amending the Construction Authority’s enabling legislation to extend the Foothill Extension project boundaries to Montclair in San Bernardino County. The changes also make Montclair an “Extension city” and the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) a non-voting member of the Authority board of directors. This is good news – and very timely – following last week’s publication of the Draft EIR for the Azusa to Montclair segment for public review and comment.
If you missed it, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Pasadena Star News ran this Editorial in support of AB1600 following the Senate’s approval. The editors express the benefits of extending the line past an arbitrary county border and note that “traffic is not a respecter of county lines.” The paper also highlights the “tremendous relief” that would come from “even a few thousand commuters” exiting the 210 for the Gold Line. Of course, with the Draft EIR estimating nearly 18,000 daily boardings on the Azusa to Montclair segment by 2035, that relief is real. Click here to view the Draft EIR, and here to read the story that ran over the weekend in the Star News and Tribune about the document’s release.
AB1600 was introduced by Assembly Member Norma Torres, who is an ardent supporter of the project. The legislation was coauthored by Senators Huff, Hernandez and Lui; as well as Assembly Member Portantino. As always, we truly appreciate their leadership and commitment to completing the project.