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Thousands Turn Out for Gold Line Opening
Lines at Union Station during Metro Gold Line's opening day festivities | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
Considering the lines at Union Station yesterday, you would think there was a new death-defying adrenaline-inducing roller coster. That's not even close, but the excitement was just as intense, if not a lot more.
Tens of thousands of people made 75,000 boardings on the new Eastside extension of the Gold Line between Union Station and East L.A. Lines to board the train neared an hour wait.
The extension brings eight new stations--six miles--to the line from Pasadena. Average time between Union Station and East L.A. is 24 minutes.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
