Friday, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority announced an agreement had been reached for the purchase of 14-acres owned by the City of Monrovia and its’ Redevelopment Agency. The land is needed for the light rail extension from Pasadena to Azusa’s maintenance and operations facility. The site was selected for the facility earlier this year by the Construction Authority board and negotiations had been taking place for the land over the last several months.
“This agreement was critical to keeping the project on schedule and could not have come at a better time” said Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian. “Owning half of the land for the M&O facility is the final condition needing to be met before significant funds could be transferred to the Authority to build the project.”
Although earlier this year the Authority and City had come close to an agreement for the land, over the last several months negotiations became more complicated following the filing of a lawsuit against the city by a private property owner. However, over the last few weeks of negotiations, the Authority and City worked through their differences and were able to come to consensus on all key issues.
The Construction Authority board is scheduled to consider the proposed transaction at its’ July 27 meeting and the Monrovia City Council will consider it in September (following its’ Redevelopment Agency’s reinstatement, pursuant to the recently enacted State budget). The Authority board will also consider award of the design-build contract to complete the light rail extension from Pasadena to Azusa at their July 27 meeting. The Board meeting will be held at Arcadia City Hall, in the Council Chambers starting at 9:30 a.m. The contract award agenda item is scheduled in the second half of the meeting, following closed session, and will start after 10:30 a.m.