The San Gabriel Valley has six major freeways cutting through its geographical boundaries. And because of the area's tremendous population growth, most of those freeways have reached their capacity and are jammed with commuters during peak hours. In desperation, more and more drivers are jumping off the freeways every day and taking major east-west thoroughfares like Valley Boulevard, which are starting to resemble parking lots during rush hour.
That is why as a member of Congress, Judy Chu has fought hard to expand mass transit and give San Gabriel Valley commuters safe, efficient and green transportation alternatives. Along with other members of the Los Angeles Congressional Delegation, Rep. Chu worked with L.A. County Metro to ensure timely disbursement of Measure R funds for the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority. As a result, construction has started on the second phase of the Gold Line, from Pasadena to the Azusa-Glendora border. Construction on the iconic freeway bridge across the 210 Freeway is already underway, and by 2015, light rail will serve the Eastern San Gabriel Valley for the first time since the Pacific Electric Red Cars.
But this is only the first step. The Congresswoman also supports the 30/10 plan, which will use future Measure R tax revenues to accelerate light rail construction throughout the county, originally planned over 30 years, to be built in just 10 years. This would allow the extension of the Gold Line Foothill Extension beyond Azusa to Glendora, Claremont, and eventually the Ontario Airport, in a third of the time originally envisioned.
The Congresswoman will also make it a priority to see the Gold Line East Side Extension's second phase follow the proposed 60 Freeway alignment through Monterey Park, Rosemead and eventually to the City of Industry; will continue to fight for funding to complete the Alameda Corridor East rail upgrades, which will move freight more efficiently through the Valley while upgrading street-level crossings to make them safer and more efficient for road traffic; and will work to secure adequate funding for maintenance and upgrade of our local freeways through federal transportation legislation.