Habib Balian, CEO of the Foothill Gold Line, said more and more people want an alternative to sitting in traffic.
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"There's folks who have cars, who have the ability to own a car, but they don't want to drive that car anymore, and I think that's what we're seeing to trend that way," Balian said.
The ground breaking for the third phase of the Gold Line will significantly extend the line east.
"This is an extension from the Azusa-Glendora border all the way to Montclair, so six cities, six stations," Balian added.
Those new stations will be added in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair.
Along with the over 12-mile extension and the addition of new stations, the ground breaking also marks the first Measure M-funded project to move forward to construction.
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"We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Measure M. I think the people of L.A. County have been very generous in supporting projects like this," Balian said.
The $1.5 billion project should be completed by 2025, and eager riders simply can't wait
"As a car-free person, I can use Metro. Metro is reliable on frequent service. It takes me where I need to go any time of day," said Metro rider Kenny Uong.