Delays are expected Friday for Metro Gold Line riders in Pasadena as crews continue to make repairs to portions of the light rail system damaged in a crash on the eastbound Foothill (210) Freeway, where one motorist was injured.
Service between the Allen and Sierra Madre Vista stations stopped Thursday morning and a shuttle bus system was set in place after a crash involving a big rig and a car sent the truck careening through the center divider and onto Metro Gold Line tracks on the freeway east of San Gabriel Boulevard. The shuttle service will continue today for rail passengers between the two stations, said Metro spokesman Rick Jager.
"Gold Line trains are operating from East L.A. all the way up to the Allen station, where they turn around and come back, and then the trains are running from Azusa to the Sierra Madre Villa station and then turning back there," he said.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the big rig and a Nissan Altima collided in the area around 4:40 a.m. Thursday, leaving the damaged truck on the Gold Line tracks and the Altima overturned.
The driver of the Altima suffered from "pain to her arms and chest area, and (she) was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital for evaluation,'' the CHP said in a statement.
Officers closed the carpool and two left main lanes and the San Gabriel Boulevard onramp to the eastbound freeway while crews worked to clear the scene. Repairs include fixing the overhead power system, installation of a new power pole and inspection of the tracks to ensure they were not damaged, said Metro spokesman Dave Sotelo.
"We're working as quickly as possible to make all the repairs ... but we had to wait until the big rig was taken off the tracks," Sotelo said. "The bus bridge will definitely be in place (Friday) morning and afternoon."
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Commuters were advised to plan ahead and anticipate delays as they rely on the shuttle buses between the two stations.
Sotero said the entire Gold Line, which stretches from East Los Angeles to Azusa, averages about 53,000 boardings on weekdays.
Metro officials suggested people consider using parallel bus service that runs along Colorado Boulevard on lines 180, 181 and 187.
It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash. Anyone with information on the crash was urged to call the CHP Altadena Area office at (626) 296-8100.
The California Highway Patrol noted drivers were driving too fast for the rainy conditions Thursday morning.
