Below is the news release from the Construction Authority, the agency building the 11.5-mile extension of the Gold Line between eastern Pasadena and the Azusa/Glendora border as well as a new rail car maintenance campus in Monrovia; that’s the big construction site just east of the Home Depot.

Outdoor street fair will feature live music, farmer’s market, commercial vendors, food and local Arcadia businesses

WHO: Area Residents and Visitors Looking for the Holiday Spirit

WHAT: Every Saturday over the next three weeks, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) is sponsoring the first ever Downtown Arcadia Christmas Market on First Ave between Huntington Dr and Wheeler Ave. The weekly outdoor street fair is being sponsored by the Construction Authority to help promote the area around the intersection of First Ave and Santa Clara St, where crews have been constructing grade crossing improvements as part of the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project.

The Downtown Christmas Market will feature live music, a farmer’s market, food, children’s amusements, artisan and commercial vendors, and booths from local Arcadia businesses.

The Construction Authority will also be hosting an information booth at each event to answer questions about the project.

WHEN: Saturdays from 5 – 9 p.m., December 7, 14 and 21, 2013

WHERE: First Ave (between Huntington Dr and Wheeler Ave) in the City of Arcadia

“The Construction Authority is sponsoring these events to help promote the area at First Ave and Santa Clara St, which is heavily impacted by current construction activities,” said Lisa Levy Buch, Director of Public Affairs for the Construction Authority. “We encourage everyone to come enjoy the holiday spirit and support Arcadia businesses.”

# # #

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 $550 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.