Congratulations San Gabriel Valley!

Just like that – the region took a quantum leap forward on Saturday in realizing their Gold Line Foothill Extension light-rail-riding dreams. More than 700 residents, elected officials, transportation officials, rail aficionados, and swarms of news media came out to Newcastle Park in Arcadia on Saturday to celebrate what has been (not to be cliche) quite the journey over the last decade.

Giving Thanks

The master of ceremonies was none other than KNX Radio’s Frank Mottek, whose voice works as well in person as it does on radio. He led the introductions to many of our elected officials who fought tooth and nail in the past on the legislative level to make the Gold Line Foothill Extension a reality: Congress members Judy Chu, Adam Schiff, David Dreier, and Grace Napolitano; California Senator Carol Liu and Assembly members Mike Eng, Dr. Ed Hernandez, Anthony Portantino; Supervisor Michael Antonovich; local Council members and Construction Authority Board members John Fasana, Ed Reyes, Doug Tessitor, Keith Hanks, Sam Pedroza (who gave a shout out to I Will Ride – thanks!); and Metro Board Chair and Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian.

Some took the time to reflect on the hard-fought battles over funding, while others talked about the team work it took to get to the groundbreaking. Many took the time to give thanks to  Authority CEO Habib Balian – whom they credited for having fought tirelessly in every way imaginable for the project over the years. The biggest thanks to Habib might have come from Metro Board Chairman Ara Najarian, an instrumental figure throughout last year’s fight for funding, who thanked Habib for making the groundbreaking happen just days before his chairmanship comes to an end.

At around 11:30 AM, the elected officials grabbed their hard hats and gold plated shovels and officially broke ground on the Foothill Extension. Just like that – a new beginning for the region. A new beginning that’s set to bring more options to driving for millions of San Gabriel Valley residents and workers, cleaner air, a billion dollars in economic development, and thousands of much-needed jobs. One more high five for the San Gabriel Valley!

For a recap, you can revisit our live-tweet at www.twitter.com/iwillride. You can also see more pictures of the groundbreaking ceremony at www.twitpic.com/iwillride.

SGV Remembers When

(this name looks awfully familiar)

A particular booth stood out on Saturday and that was the one hosted by the Mt. Sierra College Business Club (that’s right… the college that was instrumental in starting this movement a few years ago). This group of students recently teamed up with the Authority on a project to ask San Gabriel Valley residents about their memories of transportation in the Valley over the years. The project kicked off officially at Saturday’s groundbreaking, so I encourage you to share your stories and photos. And please encourage others you know to do the same. Visit: www.sgvrememberswhen.org.

The Pasadena Star-News explains the significance of tomorrow’s historic groundbreaking. The best quote:

“In short, a new era of transportation will begin out here, one that doesn’t really include the passenger car.”

If you’re still not convinced or somewhat lost, Metro’s Steve Hymon explains the Foothill Extension in the form of a Q&A. If your question is:

“Who will the Foothill Extension serve?”

… then Steve can answer that.

As we break ground on Phase 2A, two former mayors of Claremont are already turning their attention to the next phase:

I would ride – and will ride when it is available – because I want to avoid traffic, congestion and the stress of having to drive. I also want to relive experiences of riding transit in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, DC and other places where I have lived and visited in the USA and other countries.  Here’s to the Gold Line getting to Claremont one of these days – please!

- Former Claremont Mayor Ellen Taylor

It’s about time! and hopefully it will soon be on its way to Claremont and the Ontario Airport!

- Former Claremont Mayor Karen M. Rosenthal

If you have a printer, you can print out a cheat sheet for tomorrow. If you have plenty of ink to spare, feel free to print as many as you’d like and pass it around town.

REMINDER: Tomorrow’s groundbreaking starts at 10:00 AM, with the ceremony beginning around 10:30. There will be no parking at Newcastle Park itself. Free parking is available on streets and at Santa Anita Church (a few streets west of the park on Colorado). City of Arcadia shuttles are going to be available to shuttle you back and forth. Click on the image above to find out more.

We’ll see you on Saturday. At 10 AM. At Newcastle Park in Arcadia. BE THERE.

For those who can’t make it, follow our live-tweet by following us on Twitter @iwillride or just visiting www.twitter.com/iwillride.

First things first:

Congratulations to SKANSKA and AECOM

… for winning the bid to design and build the Iconic Freeway Structure. The team was selected by the Authority board last Friday.

For more details, check out the Pasadena Star-News, Metro’s The Source, or Curbed LA.

Other than that, let’s keep looking forward to this Saturday’s historic groundbreaking! If you’re a Facebook addict whose schedule revolves around RSVPing to events, good news for you: click here for the Facebook event page.

Other than that, let’s keep looking forward to this Saturday’s historic groundbreaking (if you are counting, that is less than three days to go)! If you’re a Facebook addict whose schedule revolves around RSVPing to events, good news for you: click here for the Facebook event page.

We look forward to seeing you and other supporters there, as well as the folks who made it happen on the legislative level – like Congress members Judy Chu, David Dreier, Adam Schiff, and Grace Napolitano; State legislators Carol Liu, Mike Eng, Dr. Ed Hernandez, and Anthony Portantino; and local elected officials like Mike Antonovich and John Fasana.

(click image for more information)

PLEASE NOTE: there will be no parking at Newcastle Park itself. Free parking is available on streets and at Santa Anita Church (a few streets west of the park on Colorado). City of Arcadia shuttles are going to be available to shuttle you back and forth. Click on the image above to find out more.

 Yeah – we’re counting down the days. 

With 11 days and counting to the big June 26 groundbreaking event, we took to the streets and spent a few afternoons at the Sierra Madre Villa station with the lifeblood of the Gold Line – the loyal riders that span from all across Los Angeles County. From the average businessman who enjoys using his “train time” to finish his work, to a sweet senior who sees the Gold Line as her tool to fight auto pollution, there was one common theme – there is building excitement for the next phase of the line.

(email subscribers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01OCHM8oql4)

Feel the excitement? Then, take a few minutes to share your videos and comments. Tell us – why do you ride?

See you in 10 days, eighteen hours, 58 minutes, 2 seconds (keep subtracting from 10 AM on June 26)… see you on the 26th!