Year 84 Week 43 November 2, 2012 November 7, 2012 DoubleTree Hotel 555 W. Foothill Blvd. Claremont, CA 91711 Fridays, 12:10 PM Website Full Color editions of this newsletter and back issues are always available on our website @ www.claremontrotary.com Program: Habib Balian spoke today about the extension of the Metro Gold Line. Al Leiga, who has an abiding interest in trains and transportation policy, introduced Balian, noting that historically, train service was key to growth in California. Balian is CEO of the Construction Authority for the Gold Line, which is planned to reach Montclair by 2021. Currently the Authority is managing the project from Pasadena to Azusa. Balian described the Construction Authority as a state authority that plans, designs and builds the line following Metro s design and safety guidelines and specifications. Metro then operates and maintains the line following construction. An eight-member Board of Directors governs the Construction Authority, representing city and other government entities along the corridor, including former Claremont mayor Sam Pedroza. They are soon adding a non-voting member from San Bernardino County. The Board is very focused. There is also a Joint Powers Authority (elected officials) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of City staff. Clarifier Committee Cameron Troxell Suzanne Hall Karen Sapio Steve Schenck, Photographer Carley Haro Buff Wright Barry Ulrich Sam Mowbray Sergeant John Allen The 13.7-mile Los Angeles to Pasadena Extension opened in 2003. It serves 3 Cities and 13 Stations. The Pasadena to Azusa Extension, funded by Measure R, is underway. Completion is anticipated in 2015 for the 11.5-mile project that covers 5 Cities with 6 Stations. The Azusa to Montclair Extension is proposed to cover the next 12.6 miles with 6 Stations. Estimated funding needed is $780 Million. The proposed 8-mile extension to the Ontario airport is as yet unfunded. Pasadena to Azusa: Design-build contracts have been awarded for alignment for the Pasadena to Azusa extension ($436M). Procurement is in process for the Parking Facilities: The Gold Line Bridge over the 210, costing $18.6M, has an interesting design reflecting indigenous species. It is on schedule for a December 12 completion. More than 92% of the material used to build the bridge is from More on page 2
the Clarifier Page 2 M ORE FROM HABIB: local sources. The alignment construction for the Pasadena to Azusa segment will begin in late 2012. Design-build contracts have been awarded for $436M. Work has started and should be complete in 2015. Design and preconstruction activities, such as demolition of a 24-acre site, clearing, utility location and sewer work, are substantial. The project includes a Maintenance and Operations Facility in Monrovia. Parking buildings and lots will be completed in 2015. There will be four parking structures: at Arcadia (300 Spaces), Monrovia (350), Irwindale (350), and Azusa-Citrus (200), and two surface parking lots at Duarte (125) and Azusa-Alameda (200). There will also be enhancements around stations to encourage walking, biking and bus use (funded by a federal grant). Azusa to Montclair: The Azusa to Montclair extension will cover a 12.6-mile corridor and serve 6 cities, including a Claremont station, and is scheduled to be constructed from 2016-2021. Balian has worked closely with the city to define the project, which is not yet funded. It will be a shared corridor with freight and Metrolink from Pomona eastward. There are two proposed grade-separated crossings at Lone Hill and Towne Avenues. Spending of $490M on these projects will create 6900 jobs, leading to $308M in earnings recirculated through the economy, tax revenue of $39M and $390M in outputs. The projects result in long-term impacts, construction impacts, development and economic activity and are expected to serve as a catalyst for investment. In other cities, efficient transit and appropriate zoning have served as a catalyst for investment and long term economic development around stations. There are 1200 acres of opportunity sites around the stations, roughly the size of downtown LA. Several issues have been dealt with through legislation, such as AB 1600, which extended the project to Montclair, and was signed into law in August. AB 1446 would extend LA County s Measure R half-cent sales tax indefinitely (subject to voter approval) to accelerate completion of Measure R Projects. It does not include additional funding needed to build the Azusa to Montclair segment. The completed Gold Line Project will serve the City of Hope, the LA County Arboretum, the University of La Verne and the Claremont Colleges. Some have dubbed it the brain train. You can read more about the project on the website: www.foothillextension.org. Following the talk, Balian answered questions concerning Measure J and political controversy about the apparent concentration of transit money in the city of Los Angeles. In response to a question of how funds will be secured for the Montclair extension, he noted that Measure J includes a provision that allows transfer of $750M highway funds to the project, and federal funds may come available. If J fails, all metro projects are called into question. Some uncertainty comes with the fact of changes in political leadership that will alter the membership of the Metro board and input to the project. Measure R is still in effect it has 30 years left, and a new Measure J could be introduced if this one fails. Frank Hungerford told a story about the red cars that he recalled as a boy. Pictures of the red cars are on display in the Honnold Library. Frank thanked the late Judy Wright and Al Leiga for their work on the project. Buff Wright
the Clarifier Page 3 G UESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS: Guests President Jim Lehman introduced Teddie Warner from CLASP. Paul Steffen introduced Arthur Schaertel, a former member of the club. The raffle hasn t been the same since he left. Visiting Rotarians Randy Inlow, past President of Ontario Rotary. Randy mentors the New Generations group that meets at Casa de Salsa on Wednesdays at 6:30pm and encouraged club members to attend for makeups. C LUB NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ian Standley has returned from England where he attended memorial services for his father. A memorial service for Gene St. Claire s wife Virginia will be held on Saturday, November 3. President Jim presented a $2000 check to Teddie Warner of CLASP, representing an installment in the 2012-13 donation. She presented a certificate to our club, expressing thanks to Chuck Carpenter for supporting the program and to Bridget Healy for finding a new tutor from the Interact membership. In December, CLASP will be presented with the Golden Bell award in honor of exemplary programming. Tim Harrison reported that 13 students were launched on the morning of November 2 to Teen Leadership Camp (TLC) in Irvine. TLC students receive club support of $300 per student. The inspirational camp provides lots of interactive leadership training. Bobby Hyde announced that Ben Bridge is celebrating its first 100 years as a family business with a raffle at his Montclair Plaza store on Wednesday, November 7 th from 10 am to 8:30 pm. President Jim noted that two articles about Rotary contributions to Hope Partners have appeared in the press recently: the Courier Village Venture edition and the October 29 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Thanks to Dennis Smith for placing the articles and to Steve Schenck for the photography. Sam Mowbray announced that 150 seats have been sold for the renovation of the Claremont High School Theater. There is a matching grant available for $125 each for 8 seats. As sergeant, Doug McGoon fined programming committee chair Nick Quackenbos, who acknowledged that the week before, a talk on global warming broke out during a talk on the Keystone Pipeline. We ll try again with a talk on the Keystone Pipeline in February. Buff Wright
the Clarifier Page 4 P HOTOS FROM THE MEETING: Photos by Anita Boiling
Page 5 U PCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS November 9, 2012 Healing Trauma November 16, 2012 Badwater: The Baddest Ultramarathon November 23, 2012 Dark for Thanksgiving Jim Lehman Claremont Rotary President 2012/2013 November 30, 2012 Water in Tanzania December 7, 2012 The Incredible Edible Egg December 14, 2012 Dark for Christmas Party Bacon Bits Let s keep it up! Sergeants committee meets every Friday at 11:30 AM in the Orchard Lounge at the DoubleTree Hotel and anyone with information to share is welcome!! John Allen Photos by Anita Boiling