Letter to the Editor: Discontinuing the Gold Link Shuttle

It is disappointing that the Gold Link will discontinue service. The mission of the Gold Link service was/is to enable and encourage use of the Mission Metro Station and to reduce automobile usage and traffic. Traffic on Fremont and now Fair Oaks Avenue (especially due to the construction) is congested.

Cutting traffic with viable public transportation would help to improve air quality and reduce or eliminate the high costs of automobile ownership.

Many people believe the congestion created by the is intentional to make residents of South Pasadena vote in favor of the 710 Freeway. Why else would Fair Oaks Avenue be narrowed with wider sidewalks and a center isle? It is not apparent that there are so many pedestrians walking along the sidewalks to warrant wider sidewalks.

The Gold Link makes it easier to patronize the , , and other businesses throughout South Pasadena for those who for whatever reason, do not drive. With the cost of gasoline increasing, which will continue, more people will elect to drive less. Additionally, due to the construction on Fair Oaks Avenue, some businesses have closed. How is that good for South Pasadena? A local shuttle with ample scheduling running at least every 20 minutes would increase rider-ship.

There are several statements in the South Pasadena Patch claiming that everything has been done to increase rider-ship. Reducing stops, designing routes that are too circuitous, and cutting the scheduling to every 45 minutes is no way to increase ridership. It is an effective way to reduce ridership and then use that as an excuse to discontinue the service.

Handicapped residents, students and people cutting back on automobile usage, do use the service. Increasing the frequency of the service would increase the rider-ship. The free public transportation in Portland, Oregon, has a high rider-ship because it meets the needs of its residents and local businesses.

Metro bus route 176, which includes Mission Street, has odd scheduling and therefore does not make patronizing Trader Joe's convenient, for example. Trader Joe's has notoriously inadequate parking and having efficient public transportation to and from the store would be great for South Pasadena residents. Other businesses on Mission Street could also benefit from public transportation, as their parking is also limited.

According to an article in the South Pasadena Patch, $2 million is to be allocated to street renovations, and it is claimed that cutting the Gold Link Service will save South Pasadena money that could be funneled to the Dial-a-Ride program (which is for senior citizens only).

The Gold Link program is funded entirely through California Proposition A and C funds, which the city must use to improve travel infrastructure or provide affordable public transportation. Again, widening the sidewalks and adding a center isle on Fair Oaks Avenue is not going to improve travel infrastructure! Convenient public transportation will do far more to improve travel infrastructure. It is a no-brainer.

Also, if the Gold Link program is funded entirely through California Proposition A and C Funds, how is cutting the service going to defray the deficit or save South Pasadena money?

Below are links to Patch's previous news coverage on the Gold Link shuttle and City budget: