January 27: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

Written by Kenn Bicknell

2009: The first light rail car tests for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension are conducted, bringing rail service back to the area for the first time since March 31, 1963.

The six-mile trip was part of a clearance test in which the car was towed rather than self-powered, at approximately 5mph so that proper clearance between surrounding equipment and facilities could be verified.

The $898 million Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension spans six miles from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Atlantic/Pomona Boulevards in East Los Angeles, and features eight stations (two of which are underground).

The project serves one of the most densely populated and heavily transit-dependent areas of Los Angeles County.

It is completed under budget and completed ahead of schedule with an exemplary safety record: More than 3.7 million construction working hours without a single lost-time injury — a record unparalleled by any major public works project in the country.

More information can be found in the January 27, 2009 issue of MyMetro employee news digest.

Last Updated June 3, 2024

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