U.S. Representatives Support Updating Information on Foothill Extension Project in Measure R Expenditure Plan Amendment

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, members of the congressional delegation from the San Gabriel Valley sent a joint letter to Metro (the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) calling on the agency to update the proposed Measure R Expenditure Plan Amendment with the latest information known for each project. Specifically, it states that Metro must update the information for the Foothill Extension project to Claremont:

"In the case of the Gold Line Foothill Extension, the Expenditure Plan fails to list the true estimated total cost of $1.714 billion to complete the project to Claremont, and the corresponding updated completion year. It is necessary that this information is updated to be consistent with Measure R's enacting legislation and the will of L.A. County voters."

The letter supports the proposed Expenditure Plan Amendment, which would accelerate completing the Measure R program, as long as the board approves the amended language introduced by Metro Chairman and County Supervisor Michael Antonovich. The amended motion would require staff to update the information for each Measure R project in the Expenditure Plan Amendment, specifically the Foothill Extension to Claremont.  

"That is why we strongly support the Antonovich Motion that was unanimously approved by the Executive Management Committee to reflect full information for all of the projects in the Expenditure Plan, including the Gold Line Foothill Extension."

The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (District 27), Grace Napolitano (District 32), Gloria Negrete McLeod (District 35) and Adam Schiff (District 28).

As with recent letters sent to Metro by the San Gabriel Valley State Legislative Caucus, San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, cities from Pasadena to Ontario, the League of Women Voters and others, the Congressional letter provides the corrected total estimated project cost of $1.714 billion, and urges inclusion of an updated completion year to reflect completing the project to the statutorily-defined destination of Claremont.

The Metro board is scheduled to consider the proposed amendment tomorrow - Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 9 AM - at their monthly board meeting.

SOURCE Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority