February 20: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

Written by Kenn Bicknell

2008: California Senator Barbara Boxer inspects the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension construction to see how the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is progressing with completion of the nearly $900 million project.

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer — (Click for more information)

Boxer is joined by U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Metro Board Members Gloria Molia, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Zev Yaroslavsky, along with LACMTA CEO Roger Snoble.

Boxer proclaims:

“I’m here to view some of the progress and happy to be part of the process of getting the Eastside Extension built. The people of Los Angeles know gridlock, traffic congestion and poor air quality all too well.”

She also notes the project’s positive environmental effects, saying that the $460 million in federal funding was well spent on a project that promises to ease the burden of fossil fuel dependence and lower the contribution of Los Angeles pollution to global warming.

Roger Snoble at Eastside Extension — (Click for more information)

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard states the the Eastside Extension is an example of “sound federal investment into the city.”

Supervisor Molina explains that:

“This long-awaited light rail line will connect East Los Angeles to the rest of the county’s light rail system. What’s more, it will relieve traffic congestion considerably by getting thousands of people out of their cars and into Metro’s mass transit network.”