Case Study: Pasadena Gold Line

The Pasadena Metro Gold Line is a $457 million light rail in northeast Los Angeles County. Phase I of the Project extends 13.7 miles from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, servicing the communities of Chinatown, Lincoln Heights and Highland Park, and the Cities of South Pasadena and Pasadena. DSO (Diverse Strategies for Organizing) was retained to develop and implement a community outreach and information program for the residents and businesses along the construction corridor. DSO was responsible for the coordination and logistics of all community meetings and information events, and the challenge of resolving construction impacts to constituents along the alignment.

Services

DSO created and implemented a proactive, hands-on community outreach program involving extensive contact with communities directly affected by the project. Two community information centers were established to provide constituents with easier access to project information. To support informational outreach, DSO created and maintained a project database of over 7,500 corridor constituents. In selected areas along the light rail route DSO deployed door-to-door field staff to serve as informational “ambassadors” on behalf of the project. To raise community awareness and anticipation of the new service, DSO developed a strategic calendar of public events for residents and business owners. DSO maintained the project hotline and responded to constituent complaints on behalf of the contractor in a timely and effective manner.

DSO also acted as a liaison between the Metro Gold Line Construction Authority, the project owner, and Kiewit/Washington, the contractor for the light rail system.

Working closely with the lead construction firm and subcontractors, and the Construction Authority, DSO successfully implemented an effective hands-on community outreach and mitigation plan. Construction issues were mediated quickly, and the DSO team kept the community informed to build public understanding and support for the project, and assisted in maintaining the construction schedule.

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"Diverse Strategies for Organizing provided our construction team with the best support. Always ready to go door- to- door to quickly get information to the people along the construction alignment. Communication was easy with DSO staff."

Jack Klapp
Pasadena Gold Line Construction Manager, Kiewit/Washington