Metrolink line to replace Gold Line?

| | Comments (18) |

Lost amongst a longer article I wrote on Measure R, the half-cent sales tax increase that would fund area transit, was a proposal from MTA chief Roger Snoble that suggests what area politicians have long said: he does not want to build the Gold Line all the way to Claremont.

Snoble spoke to me, on two occasions, in a speculative manner, about the possibility of completing the Gold Line as a Metrolink project, making it a heavy rail line instead of a light rail line:

An alternative plan, said Snoble, would be to build the Gold Line as far as Azusa/Glendora, then build a heavy rail Metrolink line from there to Claremont to link the Gold Line to existing Metrolink lines.

That would be more cost-effective, said Snoble, because light rail is more expensive to power with an electric system than a fuel-based one.

One argument against the line is that passengers would have to switch trains midway through a trip between Claremont and Pasadena. Metrolink is also generally a more expensive fare than the county's subway and light rail projects, and passengers would not be able to ride it with a county transit pass. These problems could potentially be overcome, if the agencies are willing to make some sort of special low fare or special area pass deal that makes it easier and cheaper for people to ride both.

I believe the main concern that area officials would have, though, is that Metrolink simply isn't as sexy. Many cities have been gearing up for transit-oriented development, with high-rise condos and shopping centers huddled around rail lines. Light rail trains don't cause localized pollution, and appear high-tech and futuristic. Metrolink looks like a freight train.

Also, Metrolink trains, justifiably, have a bad image problem right now because of their accident records.

Finally, the MTA would have to get the other area transit agencies that make up Metrolink on board to fund the project. I don't know how possible that is, but Snoble seemed to think that it would be no problem.... it would be interesting to see what the other agencies had to say about that.

18 Comments

Yankee Bravo said:
This idea has some merit, because a lot of the Gold Line stops for cities on the eastern end of the route are already slated to be shared with Metrolink stops. Of course, Gold Line trains run more frequently. And, as you note, they'd be a lot cheaper for people to ride.
David Raether said:
I don't care for this idea. For several reasons. You can already take MetroLink from Claremont to downtown. It just doesn't serve the Foothill region. The Gold Line to Claremont would. What Snoble is proposing is eliminating just three stations from the Gold Line: San Dimas, LaVerne and Pomona. For what? Those three stations would still exist under heavy rail plan. But there would be more pollution from a MetroLink train than a Gold Line light rail. What are the cost savings in building a heavy rail line from Claremont to Glendora? I can't imagine they are significant. Also, what about the residents along this proposed heavy rail line? Can't imagine them being too keen on a noisy diesel train rolling by all day and night long. The other issue is frequency of service. The advantage of light rail is it goes a lot more often. Metro Rail has a great safety record, people are jamming the Sierra Madre Villa station parking lot from far east in the Inland Empire to finish their commute downtown on the Gold Line. What really is his meaningful opposition to the Gold Line?
Anonymous said:
It would be very cool taking the Gold Line to Ontario Airport from Pasadena. I'm not sure I would be switching onto a Metrolink, tho... 1) because I value my life 2) I wouldn't want to switch trains half way thru 3) I know how bad Metrolink can be timing wise, very infrequent The plan is better than NOTHING tho
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Erik said:
David, The heavy rail line from Glendora to Claremont already exists. It is presently a freight only line operated by BNSF, on the old Santa Fe. Metrolink's San Bernardino Line, the one that goes from LAUS to Claremont to San Bernardino, uses the old Pacific Electric/Southern Pacific right of way from LAUS to a point between the Pomona-North station and the Claremont station. There it jumps over to the old Santa Fe ROW which has come from LAUS via Pasadena. The present Gold Line uses this ROW from LAUS to Sierra Madre, but BNSF still has tracks on most of the remaining ROW from a point near the Miller brewery to where the above junction is located. My question is why not route the Gold Line from Glendora towards the Fairplex, (have a nice interchange station with the San Bernardino Line where they intersect) then south to downtown Pomona (it would boost redevelopment) and follow Holt or Mission or the UP ROW (The Alameda East Corridor) thru downtown Ontario (more redevelopment) to Ontario Airport (where the UP already goes right past the terminal).
Anonymous said:
There are also other rail technologies that are available that match up very well with traditional electrified light rail but can be built right onto the existing right-of-way. The new Sprinter service in San Diego County that runs into Oceanside from the east operates diesel multiple unit or DMU vehicles that would work great between Claremont and Sierra Madre. Besides the track and signal improvements needed, someone would have to replace the bridge just past Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia to get the trains over the south side of the 210 freeway and into the median where the tracks can continue.
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UNDER THE DOME

Dan Abenschein
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This page contains a single entry by Dan Abendschein published on October 13, 2008 1:37 PM.

Pasadena City Council preview: smoke 'em if you got 'em was the previous entry in this blog.

Gold Line extension official's response to Metrolink idea is the next entry in this blog.

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