Metrolink line to replace Gold Line?
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.



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