Gold Line Foothill Extension video

In a push to extend the Gold Line light rail from Pasadena deeper into the San Gabriel Valley, several members of Congress had a video made promoting the project. They titled it -- seriously -- a "Special Congressional Report."

The video comes from Rep. David Dreier, Rep. Grace Napolitano, Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Hilda Solis.

The show features the four of them sitting around in a circle being asked questions by a moderator named Jo Maney. Here is her first hardball question, addressed to Dreier:

"Can you tell us a little bit about the Gold Line Foothill Extension and how it will help reduce traffic congestion and save energy?"

Maney then goes on to forget to tell viewers a crucial detail: she happens to work for the guy she's interviewing. Maney is Dreier's press secretary.

As for the rest of the 25-minute video, there's nothing earth-shaking. All four members of Congress reiterate their support for the project. Dreier, in a meeting with the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin's editorial board, also urges readers to plead with the MTA board to provide seed money in funding so the project can seek federal funding from Congress.

High-resolution video: http://dreier.house.gov/video/transportation-high.wmv

Low-resolution video: http://dreier.house.gov/video/trans-low.wmv

I have a call into Dreier's office to see if he will support the half-cent sales tax increase if it makes it to the November ballot. The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority is not supporting it, still angry over the MTA board's refusal earlier this summer to provide the $80 million in seed money for the Gold Line project.

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[forgotten citizen]

As a handicap bus ride in SGV, I am tired reading the message that SGV has metro link and W LA does not have anything. I understand the need for the subway is urgently needed in W LA. I support subway to sea because more people need that. However, in SGV, we pretty much have nothing. I understand we waste the money on couple propositions on freeway expansion (why the money kept diverting to freeway construction even as the oil cost has gone up). In W LA, at least people have better bus choices. Bus 33, 320 rapid bus run frequently (5 to 10 minutes) Buses still run freq at night. I just checked the metro link. The one city of industry does not run after 9:30 am in the morning people have to catch the train before 6:35 in the union station. San Bernadino line is little bit better. Most of the time, it runs every hour. In the rush hour, it runs every 20 minutes. I can understand why. There are no good bus system in that area (azusa, covina,, Baldwin park). Before foothilltransit, walking and dial the ride were the probably best choice. Metrolink actually makes easier, so it is not fair that SGV has metro link. The one in City of industry does not go anywhere, and it has limit time. The San Bernadino line is more frequently. Without it, people cannot not go to downtown. With purple line, people in West still can take bus. I know I used to live in Mar Vista. That was the only time I travel at nightwithout fear of not getting home (forget about comfort, in LA, having a bus is more important than anything else of bus riders)
So far SGV has two terrible best options. 484 along valley which runs every 30 minutes. and metrolink which runs less freq than bus (andmore frequently). People have asked me and complained how terrible the services. Some people worked in LA and tried to utilize metrolink, but they cannot. It is possible that people can miss the last train. Therefore, car drivers still prefer to drive than taking the metro link (I agree, more and more people are using metro link). It could be there are less people in SGV, but I do think it is lack of planning. II beleve the Expo line is much more important than Gld line extension. The money to build to build goldline extension could be use to enhance metrolink service (and cheaper, so everyone can ues) and bus systems. How would SGV people use expo line if the bus/train cannot take home
That is the reason i have dilemma about the proposit. it passes, it will improve the bus system significantly, but LA is still crappy city in term of public transportation. It does not improve the life of people who depend on public transit. It will not encourage people to take public transportation. Due to the traffic congestion and rising oil price, people are hoping the public transportation can improve. The public transportation is doing the same thing, waiting for the ridership to go up to improve the syste. Except the goldline, which I think it is waste of money. That money should be utilize better in other part of SGV to make area more efficiently. I am not going to benefit that. The people who has to walk 2 hours or transfer 2 buses to get to gold line extension will not benefit that.
Therefore, stop saying we have metrolink. It should have been there long long time ago.

[Eric]

In my opinion, the GOld line to Azusa is a good idea, but beyond Azusa, I wonder how practical it is. There is, afterall, a Metrolink line that follows the same path as the Gold line and shares many of it's stations. The gold line should not come until after the downtown connector, the Crenshaw line, and the Purple line to at least Century City. I am very angry about the crude political tactics of the Gold Line foothill extensions board to not allow the 1/2 cent tax increase to even reach the ballot for the people of LA county to vote on (whether it passes or not). The people of LA county deserve to vote on it. These political tactics make me no longer wish to support ANY extension of the Gold line beyond Azusa.

[Shaun]

Dreier:So Ms. Maney Can yyou tell us what "conflict of interest is?"

Ms. Maney: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

[LAofAnaheim]

Geez....transit NEVER reduces traffic. It provides OPTIONS. Is there any less traffic on the 101 through Hollywood? Or what about New York City? Or Chicago? Or San Franciso? No, never, zilch, nada. Transit allows for growth and alternatives. If the freeway has less congestion, it just allows more drivers to use it, thus keeping traffic.

Saying transit will give you less traffic gives false hope.

[Dan W.]

"The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority is not supporting it, still angry over the MTA board's refusal earlier this summer to provide the $80 million in seed money for the Gold Line project."

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Well, if they don't support it, they are cutting off their nose to spite their face. No money = no Gold Line. If the sales tax doesn't pass, the Gold Line isn't happening any time soon.