July 25, 2008 Contact: Dave Sotero/Marc Littman Metro Media Relations 213.922.3007/213.922.2700 www.metro.net/pressroom

A Look Back at “Discover Gold”
Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold Line Marks Five-Year Anniversary

This month marks the five-year anniversary of the Metro Gold Line, the increasingly popular San Gabriel Valley rail line that whisks commuters between downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena.

The nearly 14-mile line opened on July 26, 2003 and was hailed as a historic return of an electric rail corridor idled for more than 50 years. The last electric trains — the Pacific Electric "Red Cars" that traveled in the area — ended in the 1950s.

The launch of the rail line was celebrated at Gold Line stations with unique public festivities. The opening weekend, in fact, drew more than 160,000 boarding passengers eager to take their first ride on the new line. In August 2003, its first full month of revenue service, the Gold Line logged more than 18,000 average weekday boardings. Ridership has progressively increased since that time, reaching an all-time high of 26,338 average weekday boardings in June, up 31.8 percent over June of last year. In the last five years, the Gold Line has carried more than 27 million boardings.

Gold Line trains currently serve Los Angeles, Chinatown Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, South Pasadena and Pasadena. The Gold Line is now headed east with a six-mile extension to East Los Angeles scheduled to open next year. Estimated to take 17 minutes to ride between Union Station and the new terminus at Atlantic Station, the rail extension will have eight total new stations.

“The Metro Gold Line has taken its place as a critically important leg of the expanding Metro Rail System that serves the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley areas,” said Mayor and Metro Board Chair Antonio Villaraigosa. “I look forward to the continued expansion of Gold Line service to its next destination of East Los Angeles.”

Over the years, Metro has increased the frequency of Gold Line service during peak hours to enable more commuters to quickly reach their destinations. Trains run about every 7-8 minutes in the morning and afternoon rush hours, and 12 minutes during afternoon hours.

“The Gold Line is fulfilling its promise as a frequent transit service of choice for cost-conscious commuters,” said John Fasana, Metro Board Member and Duarte City Council Member.

When it opened, the Metro Gold Line brought a new generation of Tournament of Roses parade goers to parade-related events after almost 50 years’ hiatus. With its convenient stops at Del Mar, Memorial Park and Allen Stations, the Gold Line has served as a relief valve for Pasadena-area traffic. More than 60,000 New Year’s Day boardings are common as Angelinos throughout the county ride into Pasadena on Metro Rail for Tournament of Roses Parade, football game and other post-parade festivities.

Metro as well as municipal bus operators including Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Foothill and Montebello Bus Lines have made numerous bus line changes to connect passengers with Gold Line stations.

To download a Metro Gold Line timetable or plan your trip, visit www.metro.net. For transit trip planning assistance over the phone, call 1-800-COMMUTE.

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Editors Note: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority uses its popular name, “Metro,” in all external and internal communications materials. We prefer this reference and ask for the media’s cooperation in updating written style guides accordingly as well using “Metro” in verbal references. If you need to update your graphics files with the current Metro logo, most current transit maps and other related images, please call Metro Media Relations at 213-922-2700.

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