Project Advocacy - Pasadena Gold Line Commuter Rail

The Gold Line is a $600 million passenger rail line from downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena. It was completed in 2000 (approximately) and has been very successful.

However, in its early planning period (1992-96), it was faced with constant threat of termination and loss of funding, primarily due to lawsuits from bus rider constituencies. Bill Lyte served from 1992-1994 on a strategic working group at the City of Pasadena to develop political and advocacy strategies to keep the line alive.

The initial concept of a “Gold Line Technology Corridor” was developed as such a strategy, to promote the line as a gateway to Pasadena’s emerging technology industry, rather than just an expensive rail line.