Portantino, Leyva & Rodriguez Request Funds for Gold Line Foothill Extension From Cap and Trade Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds

Thursday, August 24 2017

Sacramento, CA – State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), along with State Senator Connie M. Leyva and Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, jointly sent a letter requesting that $280 million of the Cap and Trade Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds (GGRF) be allocated for the Gold Line Foothill Extension project.  The funds would aid the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority’s efforts to bring the light rail project to the San Bernardino County community of Montclair.

The letter was sent from the three legislators to Senator Bob Wieckowski, Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee 2 and Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Senator Holly J. Mitchell, Chair of the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León.  The letter also requests that the issue be agendized for public input on the Subcommittee 2’s Hearing Agenda, and that the Construction Authority be allowed to testify.

“The Gold Line continues to be one of the most important light rail projects in California, creating green travel for commuters and casual passengers and significant economic development to the San Gabriel Valley.  I was pleased to be one of its biggest supporters while in the Assembly and I am continuing to make it a priority.  I know that my colleagues feel the same way about it and I am very happy to join them in this joint letter,” commented Portantino.

The Gold Line Foothill Extension project will increase public transportation from Los Angeles County to San Bernardino County. One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is by taking cars off the road and providing viable alternatives. This project will decrease these emissions by increasing transit ridership while reducing the number of independent vehicles on the road. Additionally, this project will alleviate traffic congestion between two counties and offer disadvantaged communities another transportation resource. The cities that would benefit with a station platform are Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont, and Montclair.

###

 

Sen. Portantino represents nearly 930,000 people in the 25th Senate District, which includes Altadena, Atwater Village, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, La Verne, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Shadow Hills, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland-Tujunga, and Upland.