A grand transit bargain?

John Fasana is in a unique position in MTA- he is a Duarte council member and the only board member from the San Gabriel Valley.

With so much tension between SGV politicians and the MTA he is often stuck in the middle, and is generally very diplomatic. I believe what he told me on the phone yesterday was his diplomatic way of telling me that the only way the Gold Line gets done is if it is coupled with the freeway toll lane plan that would turn the 10 and 210 car pool lanes into pay lanes.

From today's story:

When asked if the struggle over the freeway toll lane projects might cause the Gold Line to be delayed, Fasana said the board "could have those types of concerns."

Meanwhile, at a raucous meeting of SGV politicians a few weeks ago, several legislators clearly said they would only support the toll plan if the Gold Line were passed first.

In conversations on background, several people have told me the two projects appear to be linked.

So what do you think San Gabriel Valley? Are you willing to accept toll lanes as the price to pay to get the Gold Line?

More to come after Thursday's MTA meeting.