12.3-Mile Gold Line Extension Takes First, Tentative Steps in Southern California

A planned 12.3-mile extension of the Metro Gold Line through the San Gabriel Valley passed a major milestone this week, after the Gold Line Construction Authority board approved the first contract for the project.

Steve Scauzillo reports that "W.A. Rasic Construction Co. will relocate the underground utilities along the route for an amount not to exceed $2.7 million."

The contract is approved while an ongoing dispute between the Authority and Metrolink, the regional commuter rail that shares the extension's right of way, threatens the project. "Metrolink requested four to six additional train bridges that would separate the light-rail train from the street level, something that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and would take another two years of study, design and engineering, stretching a nine-year project to 11 years," explains Scuazillo. A separate article, written by Scauzillo before the approval of the new contract, reports more of the details of that dispute.

A recent report presented to the Gold Line Construction Authority board does not mince words in criticizing Metrolink's cooperation on the extension project. This conflict will require close observation moving forward.