Today marks the grand opening of eight new MTA stations along the Gold Line.  The six miles addition cost the city $898 million.  With such a high price tag many have asked weather the cost was worth it.

The new stops on the Gold Line incorporate downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and the banks of the L.A. River.  While the benefits of the extension may take some time to develop, the city has great plans for many of these areas.  The L.A. River has a city plan for redevelopment which will make the surrounding areas more desirable than in the past.  Just the fact that most of this particular extension is above ground allows train commuters to see these areas on a regular basis bringing the rejuvenation of these areas a visual representation on a daily basis.

This extension is not the end of the line, with a 24-miles long extension already moving forward through the San Gabriel Valley, downtown and the rest of the city are closer to one another than ever before.  As the expansion of the various MTA rail lines continue and more forgotten neighborhoods and landmarks are incorporated their connection to the city is reestablished and allows us to see the surrounding areas in a different light. For more information on the Gold Line’s future plans visit www.metrogoldline.org