Ten years have passed since Metro proposed extending the eastern half of the Gold Line as a way to connect San Gabriel Valley and southeast Los Angles County residents with work centers in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

But instead of shovels in the ground, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will host another round of public meetings starting next week, with the earliest estimate of any ground breaking another 10 years in the future.

Metro wants to know if the issues with the line extensions are settled, so it can complete its technical study later this year and bring the matter to the governing board for a vote.

Proponents say the mega transit agency is making progress on solving route issues but may be trying the public’s patience.

“This is the fourth or fifth (set of) community meetings. You can’t keep stringing them a long, chasing a carrot,” said South El Monte City Councilman Joe Gonzales and chairman of the SR-60 Coalition, which includes South El Monte, El Monte, Rosemead, Monterey Park, Montebello and City of Industry.

“However, I think we are getting close. Measure M gives the answer needed for moving forward,” Gonzales said.

Metro wants to extend the popular train easterly from the Atlantic Boulevard station in East Los Angeles either to South El Monte, or southeast to Whittier. But plans ground to a halt in November 2014 when the Metro board could not decide which route to build and instead, began a technical study that considers building both routes.

The 60-Freeway route would extend the rail about 6.9 miles mostly along the south side of the freeway terminating at Peck Road in South El Monte near Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. The Whittier route would take the line south, either down Arizona Avenue or Atlantic Boulevard to Telegraph Road in Commerce, then east along Washington Boulevard to Lambert Road in Whittier ending at the PIH Health Hospital.

The 60 Freeway route would add four new stations and serve about 16,700 riders on weekdays at a cost of about $2 billion, said Gonzales. About $1.8 billion has been earmarked in two transit measures, Measure R passed by voters in 2008 and Measure M, passed by voters in November, he said.

The Washington Boulevard route — as earlier proposed — would have served an estimated 19,900 passengers per weekday and would be 9.5 miles long with six stations. Because this route has several options, cost estimates are unavailable. In 2014, Metro estimated the cost of building both extensions at about $5 billion.

In the past, Whittier officials have said the Washington Boulevard route going down Arizona or Atlantic is best because it would serve more transit-dependent people and would be located along city streets. “This alignment is designed for what light rail is supposed to do — connect communities. You can imagine the diverse ridership,” Whittier City Councilman Fernando Dutra told this newspaper in March. He did not return a phone call by deadline on Tuesday.

But Gonzales says the SR-60 route is ahead because its stations are planned and funding committed. “Look at the funding available: You are looking at a line ready to go,” he said.

The meetings should settle obstacles facing the SR-60 alignment, he said. Metro has met with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has worked out a zigzag route around the former Operating Industries Inc. landfill in Monterey Park adjacent to the 60 Freeway. Metro and the Army Corps of Engineers have talked through the issue of the flood plain at the proposed Santa Anita Avenue Station. And finally, he believes raising of Edison power lines — now stretched over the freeway lanes — to allow for train electrical conduits is feasible — but will cost money.

Even if Metro eliminates the Santa Anita Avenue station, Gonzales said it’s possible the route could extend into City of Industry. Serving a city with a daytime worker population of 80,000 makes sense, he said, especially if many end up taking the train instead of driving the 60 Freeway.

“We need more transportation alternatives,” he said. “The 60 is horrible. There is only a small window of so many hours in the day when there isn’t bumper-to-bumper traffic.”

Meetings will take place as follows:

• Feb. 6, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Whittier Uptown Senior Center, 13225 Walnut St., Whittier, CA 90602

• Feb. 7, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Quiet Cannon, Spyglass Room, 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640

• Feb. 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., South El Monte Senior Center, 1556 Central Ave., South El Monte, CA 91733

• Feb. 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Commerce Senior Citizens Center, 2555 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040

• Feb. 16, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., AltaMed PACE East Los Angeles, 5425 E. Pomona Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90022

For more information, go to metro.net/eastsidephase2; or call: 213-922-3012. Spanish translation is provided. Materials presented by Metro will be the same at each meeting.