PASADENA, Calif. - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted Thursday to approve a request for federal funding for two county rail projects - the Westside's "Subway to the Sea," and a connector project that would link several existing lines - but a motion to include the 24-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension line in the request was withdrawn, the Star News reports.
The regional connector project has some benefits for the San Gabriel Valley - it will connect the Gold Line directly to several other lines, creating direct routes from Pasadena to Long Beach, Santa Monica and Los Angeles International Airport.
MTA officials have said the connector could cut the commute to Long Beach by as much as 21 minutes.
The board next month might consider a motion to direct MTA staff to look for other pots of federal money for the Gold Line.
(This item appeared in the Star News Sept. 25, 2009.)
