Readers React: The Gold Line connects all of L.A. to Pasadena culture

To the editor: Ethan N. Elkind’s urbanist perspective ignores the Gold Line’s critical role as an arterial for commuters from the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire previously left to crawl along the 210 Freeway, though he wants to increase and redistribute their taxes, presumably westward. (“How politics built L.A.’s Gold Line at the expense of a smarter system,” March 14)

Completion of the Gold Line to Montclair should be accelerated now, without demanding a massive new tax increase.

Pasadena’s Del Mar, Memorial Park and Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line stations have already triggered substantial transit-oriented residential development, and they attract central city and Westside patrons to theaters such as the Pasadena Playhouse, A Noise Within, Boston Court and others as well as to museums such as the Norton Simon, Pacific Asia and more.

So, beyond the commuters, the Gold Line is a rich resource for all of Greater Los Angeles.

William Opel, Pasadena

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