Double dip of good news about progress on Gold Line Foothill Extension

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Let’s do a double dip of good news from the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, which is building the 11.5-mile Gold Line extension from eastern Pasadena to the Azusa/Glendora border.

First, from the Authority’s most recent e-newsletter:

Pasadena to Azusa:

Significant progress continues along the 11.5-mile corridor, as the Pasadena to Azusa project nears 50% completion. Most bridge structures and at-grade crossings have been completed or are nearing completion, and light rail track will soon be laid along the corridor. Work is underway at four of the six stations, and in mid-November the third (and final) concrete pour for the Duarte Station platforms took place. The Operations Campus is also moving along on schedule. Light rail track is being installed, and nearly all of the OCS (overhead catenary system) pole foundations for the future system to power the trains are now ready.

Please click here for the full newsletter, including information about planning for the Azusa-to-Montclair segment. That segment is beyond the scope of Measure R funding and is unfunded at this time — although the project is in Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan.

And here’s the news release about the reopening of Mayflower Avenue:

Mayflower Ave to Re-Open Ahead of Schedule

WHO: Residents / Commuters in the City of Monrovia.

WHAT: This evening, Mayflower Ave at the railroad crossing in the city of Monrovia will fully reopen to thru-traffic. Crews have completed the grade crossing improvements at the street crossing ahead of schedule. This grade crossing work required a full closure of Mayflower Ave at the railroad crossing since late September. Please note that although no additional full closures of this street are anticipated, future work activities in the area may require occasional lane closures as needed.

The pedestrian shuttle service, which helped assist pedestrians around the closure during construction, will no longer be provided after today’s work completion and re-opening of the street and sidewalks.

WHEN:
– Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.: Mayflower Ave will fully reopen to thru-traffic at the railroad crossing located between Evergreen Ave and Duarte Rd. The sidewalks will also reopen, and the pedestrian shuttle service will no longer be available.

WHERE: Mayflower Ave at the railroad crossing (between Evergreen Ave and Duarte Rd) in the City of Monrovia.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
– Mayflower Ave will be reopen to thru-traffic and no additional full closures of this street are anticipated; however work activities will continue in the area with occasional lane closures as needed.
– The sidewalks will reopen and the pedestrian shuttle service will no longer be provided.

Construction schedules are subject to change for various reasons, including, but not limited to, weather conditions and unforeseen delays.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
– Visit www.foothillextension.org

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About the Construction Authority: The Construction Authority is an independent transportation planning and construction agency created in 1998 by the California State Legislature. Its purpose is to extend the Metro Gold Line light rail line from Union Station to Montclair, along the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. The Construction Authority built the initial segment from Union Station to Pasadena and is underway on the Gold Line Foothill Extension. The Foothill Extension is a $1.7 billion extension that will connect Pasadena to Montclair in two construction segments – Pasadena to Azusa and Azusa to Montclair. The 11.5-mile Pasadena to Azusa segment is fully funded by Measure R and will be completed in September 2015, when it will be turned over to Metro for testing and pre-revenue service. Metro will determine when the line will open for passenger service. Three design-build contracts, totaling more than $500 million, are being overseen by the Construction Authority to complete the Pasadena to Azusa segment. The Azusa to Montclair segment is environmentally cleared and is proceeding to advanced conceptual engineering in 2014.