GoldLine Extension Update

A large meeting was held at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Headquarters on Thursday, June 26th to discuss the MTA’s long range plan, the proposed extensions, and the proposed half cent sales tax increase to fund these projects. This sales tax would raise $40 billion over the course of 30 years. The outcome was to delay decision making on this until after the ballot measures determine if this sales tax increase will take place. This outcome causes the MTA to miss the deadline to receive $320 million in federal funding for the project.

The San Gabriel Valley extension would cost $400 million for the first phase of the 24 mile, $1.4 billion proposed extension to the Ontario International Airport. This project did not receive support in February during the voting.

The MTA Board has 13 local-area politicians who are also being lobbied by other groups such as Santa Monica residents for the Expo Line Extension and South Bay residents for the Green Line extension. The board also voted to include a project that would convert the carpool lanes on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway and the Foothill (210) Freeways into toll lanes on its long-term plan. That move will allow the agency to receive $214 million in federal funding.

The result of the Goldline extension is now contingent upon the sales tax increase funds, which would allocate $320 million to the project and have the Goldline included in funding on the MTA’s long range plan. The bill for the Goldline extension and its projects, budgets and expenditure plan were to have been reviewed by the MTA Board their July 24th meeting.

The information for this article was obtained from the Pasadena Star News Article dated June 27th and http://www.metrogoldline.org. If you have any questions or comments on this article, please write to Linda.Vidov@Century21.com or call 626-930-9392.

By Linda Vidov, Chairman LGR Committee

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Affiliates, Affiliates, Affiliates!

The Affiliate members of the Arcadia Association of REALTORS are key players within the Association. You see us at the Wednesday morning caravan meetings—lots of us: for example, Mike Waters of LandSafe Title, Pamela McSweeney of American Home Shield, Diane Balsamo and Ann Watson of Countrywide, Scott Shimamoto of Premiere Home Mortgage, Kim Welborn of Fidelty Home Warranty, and yours truly, now with Mountain Views Observer weekly newspaper, along with many more.

You’ve come to know us over weeks, months and years, but do you sometimes wonder what exactly an Affiliate member does?

Well, I think that Affiliate members are true supporters of the real estate industry in general, particularly the Arcadia Association. Not only do we offer you services such as loans, insurance, advertising opportunities, and so on, but we also offer support to you, the real estate professional. We work golf tournaments, help with the newsletter, offer services on Wednesday mornings at the MLS Caravan meetings such as greeting, serving coffee, providing inspiration, selling raffle tickets, and much more. When help is needed for a particular workshop or event, the Affiliates can always be counted on to assist.

Why do we do this you ask? It is because we believe in the real estate industry and in all of the AAR professionals in the industry. We want both to assist and support you in any way we can and also offer you the best in services.

Take advantage of this energetic and enthusiastic support network and support your AAR Affiliate Members whenever you can. After all, we’re all in this together.

By Ann Luke, Mountain Views-Observer

To contact Ann Luke, call 626.325.3111.

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