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August 2, 2001 |
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Versión
en español
In a ceremony today
outside MTA's headquarters building behind Union Station, a plaque
honoring the late Rep. Julian Dixon was unveiled and will be placed inside
one of the MTA's busiest Metro Rail stations.
U.S. Rep. Julian Dixon,
a longtime supporter of public transit projects in Los Angeles, including
the Metro Rail and Metro Bus systems passed away last December at the age
of 66. The 7th
Street Metro Center Station, the junction of the Metro Red Line subway
system and the Metro Blue Line light rail system, has been renamed the 7th
Street/Metro Center/Julian Dixon Metro Rail Station. The plaque unveiled
today will be placed in a prominent location within the station. Los Angeles County
Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, former MTA Board Chair, proposed the
name change earlier this year by introducing a motion that was unanimously
passed by the MTA Board of Directors. The motion read in part: "Los
Angeles County, transportation services, and the MTA has suffered a great
loss with the passing of Congressman Julian Dixon. Serving in the Congress
for 22 years, he saw beyond the borders of his own district and beyond
the next election." "We are pleased today
to unveil this special plaque in honor of the late Rep. Julian Dixon,"
said Los Angeles County Supervisor and MTA Board Member Yvonne Brathwaite
Burke. "He knew that Los Angeles County needed viable alternatives to
freeways and automobiles." "He was 'The
Voice' of Los Angeles County transportation in Washington, leading the
effort to secure federal funding for Metro Rail and, together with the
late Tom Bradley and Kenny Hahn, put together the combination of federal,
state and local funding that established this critical component of Los
Angeles' mass transit system," said Burke. Joining in the
unveiling of the special plaque was the late Congressman's widow, Bettye
Dixon, MTA's new Board Chairman John Fasana, a City Councilman from
Duarte, MTA CEO Julian Burke, as well as a number of invited guests. "This special bronze
plaque signifies the tremendous gratitude MTA and the region owe to
Congressman Julian Dixon for the accomplishments he made in improving
transportation for Los Angeles County," said MTA Board Chairman John
Fasana. "Not only a champion of rail, Congressman Dixon also helped
secure funding to revamp MTA's bus service and provide funding for more
than a dozen municipal bus o The Metro Red Line Seventh Street Metro Center station was selected to honor the late Congressman Dixon because the station brings together two important rail lines, both of which Dixon was key in assisting with funding. MTA-107 |
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