Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Public Transportation

Truck Crashes into Gold Line Tracks in Pasadena on Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving morning, yet another 210 Freeway truck crashed into the Gold Line tracks in Pasadena. As reported at The Source, the 2 a.m. crash completely shut down that portion of the Gold Line until about 11 a.m. that morning. Due to crash damage to signal machinery, Gold Line trains are now running on an abbreviated schedule. According to Patch, repairs are expected to be completed in about two weeks.

Televised coverage at KTLA mentioned the Gold Line, but focused on the "accident" delaying cars. KTLA's written article, however, doesn't mention transit at all. The incident was also covered at the Pasadena Star News.

Perhaps Streetsblog should give the unlucky holiday news shift a break for omitting things, but similar to the October 15 crash, the press failed to note the decade-plus history of similar (and not infrequent) crashes on this stretch, Metro’s plan to fix the dangerous conditions, and Caltrans’ dragging of its heels on safety upgrades.

According to unpublished Metro records, last week's crash brings the total to ten serious incidents damaging the Gold Line. In 2018 alone, four crashes have jumped this unsafe freeway barrier: in January, April, October, and last week.

Metro recently revised their project budget upwards. The I-210 Barrier Replacement Project is now forecast to cost $20 million, up from the earlier estimate of $11.08 million. Those figures pertain to just the design costs. Metro has split the project into two projects. Project 1 would be in Arcadia, east of Michillinda Avenue (an area where there have not been any crashes causing damage to the Gold Line - yet), where Metro expects that construction can proceed with no impact to freeway car traffic. Project 2 would be in Pasadena, west of Michillinda. For that stretch, Metro is undertaking costly detailed traffic simulations to quantify construction delays. The studies have been required by Caltrans, which is also insisting on "mitigation" for Metro's project, likely driving up costs and delaying needed safety and reliability improvements for transit riders.

It is no "accident" that Gold Line riders are getting the shaft here. Caltrans is delaying Metro's work to remedy this life-threatening situation.

Caltrans should be paying Metro to accelerate this project. Caltrans should mitigate the danger that their highway project is causing these rail passengers.

Due to these crashes, as well as major noise and pollution issues, it is imperative that Metro no longer site transit stations in the middle of freeways. This pertains directly to the Eastside Gold Line 60 Freeway alignment currently under consideration.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

CARB Says E-bike Incentives Are Coming

On December 18, the California Air Resources Board will finally launch its e-bike incentive program.

December 3, 2024

Santa Monica Reduces Speed Limits Throughout City

Thirty city streets will see changes in their posted speed limits - one of which will be an increase.

December 3, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines

City of Sacramento did not invest in roads, but paid in lawsuits; Bus-only lanes on Vermont Avenue; There's a lot of money sitting around on unused transit cards; More

December 3, 2024

When Journalists Give Even Intentional Traffic Violence a Pass

The driver who killed Paris cycling advocate Paul Varry has been charged with murder — but America's top-selling newspaper seemingly implied that he's a victim of the "war on cars."

December 3, 2024

New ‘Traffic Monitoring’ Site Consolidates Data on Car Volumes & Speeds

Now anyone can go online and take a look at Telraam data to see car volumes, speeds, and more

December 3, 2024
See all posts