Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTIONS ABOUT RIDING THE METRO A LINE
Questions about how much it costs to ride the Metro A Line, including: train schedules, parking fees or any other question related to the operational Metro system should be directed to Los Angeles County Metro (the Construction Authority is a separate government agency from LA Metro):
Metro’s customer relations is available at 1-323-Go Metro (1-323-466-3876) or customerrelations@metro.net. Train schedules and other information are also available at www.metro.net.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY
Is the Construction Authority a department of Los Angeles County Metro?
No. The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority is a separate agency from Los Angeles County Metro. The Construction Authority is a single-purpose agency, put in place by the California State Legislature in the late 1990s to plan, design, and construct the Gold Line (now A Line) light rail system from Los Angeles Union Station to Claremont (later extended to Montclair). Los Angeles County Metro is the Transportation Authority for the County of Los Angeles and is responsible for operating and maintaining the Gold Line/A Line and other rail and bus systems throughout the county.
The Construction Authority has already built two of the three Foothill Gold Line segments; Union Station to Pasadena and Pasadena to Azusa; and is currently underway on the third segment from Glendora to Montclair (which will be completed in two phases). Once the Construction Authority has completed construction and testing of each Gold Line segment, the agency turns that segment over to Los Angeles County Metro to operate. Metro is then the responsible agency in perpetuity.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GLENDORA TO MONTCLAIR SEGMENT
When will the Foothill Gold Line from Glendora to Montclair be complete? When can I begin riding?
The project broke ground in December 2017. The first three years of the project were used to relocate and protect strategic utilities, conduct other pre-construction activities, and finalize design. In August 2019, the Kiewit-Parsons Joint Venture (KPJV) team was selected for the main design-build contract for the fully funded project segment from Glendora to Pomona (including stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona). KPJV is on schedule to complete the four-station, 9.1-mile project segment to Pomona in early 2025. Once KPJV reaches substantial completion, the project segment gets turned over to LA Metro and LA Metro decides when passenger service starts. Based on past phases, it takes approximately six months from substantial completion for passenger service to start; but the decision is made by LA Metro.
Importantly, the remaining project segment from Pomona to Montclair, including the Claremont and Montclair stations, will need to be built as a separate phase. The 3.2-mile, two-station project segment is shovel-ready and is expected to receive the majority of the funding needed through the State of California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (funded mostly by SB125). In anticipation, the Construction Authority started the procurement process to hire the design-build contractor in March 2024, and expects to award a contract in Spring 2025. Once the contractor is hired, the project will take approximately five years to build to Claremont and Montclair.
Will the Glendora Station open for passenger service first, then the San Dimas Station, etc. (moving east); or will all stations open at one time?
For efficiency of cost and scheduling, the entire project segment is built altogether and in layers by the design-builder (underground utilities, drainage, communication/systems, street crossings, bridge construction, ballast installation, track installation, etc.), with specialty crews moving from one place to another completing their layer. This process – which includes tens of thousands of work activities – allows the design-builder maximum flexibility to schedule crews and equipment, as well as arrange for needed materials. It results in the entire construction project being completed at the same time.
Once the Construction Authority reaches substantial completion and the project is turned over to LA Metro for training and pre-revenue service, it is up to LA Metro to decide how the agency opens the extension for passenger service. It is anticipated though, that all stations all open at the same time.
Is the Glendora to Montclair segment fully funded?
The 12.3-mile, six-station Glendora to Montclair project is being built in phases due to funding constraints.
Glendora to Pomona Funding: Funding for the westernmost 9.1-mile Glendora to Pomona project segment is coming mostly from LA County, with State of California greenhouse gas reduction and tire-derived aggregate grant funding. The majority of Los Angeles County funding is from the Measure M half-cent sales tax (approved by LA County voters in November 2016), along with nearly $100 million of residual funds from the Measure R half-cent sales tax not used to complete the now-operational Pasadena to Azusa segment. Additionally, the project was awarded a nearly $300 million grant through the CalSTA’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) in 2018. The majority of the TIRCP grant funds have been used to complete the Glendora to Pomona segment, with approximately $40 million set aside for the final project segment (see below). In 2021, the project was also awarded a $650,000 grant from CalRecycle to use tire-derived aggregate as part of the project. As a result, approximately 548,200 tires were recycled and utilized to reduce noise in areas along the project corridor where noise impacts were identified and could be reduced through this effort.
Pomona to Montclair Funding: The final 3.2-mile, two-station project segment from Pomona to Montclair (including the Claremont and Montclair stations) is receiving the majority of the funding needed through the State of California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. The majority of funding to complete the Los Angeles County portion of the project is coming from a state grant funded by SB125. San Bernardino County is responsible for funding the portion of the project in their county and has funding set aside from several local and state sources.
Have the locations of the Glendora to Montclair stations been finalized?
Yes. The locations of the Glendora to Montclair stations were selected by the station-cities and approved as part of the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Glendora to Montclair segment in 2013. Gold Line stations will be located in the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair, and generally located as identified below (to learn more about each station, including the latest site plan, visit the city-station pages:
- The Glendora Station will be located south of the city’s historic downtown, just east of Vermont Avenue.
- The San Dimas Station will be located near the civic center, east of San Dimas Avenue and south of Bonita Avenue.
- The La Verne Station will be located north of Arrow Highway and east of E Street, between the University of La Verne and the Fairplex.
- The Pomona Station will be located west of Garey Avenue and south of Bonita Avenue. It will share a general station area with the existing Pomona North Metrolink Station.
- The Claremont Station will be located approximately where the current Metrolink Station is located today, just west of College Avenue and south of First Street. As part of the Foothill Gold Line project, the Claremont Metrolink Station will be relocated east of College Avenue, nearer to the station parking. NOTE: The Claremont Station is not part of the fully funded project currently under construction.
- The Montclair Station will be located at the Montclair TransCenter, located just east of Monte Vista Avenue and north of Arrow Highway. A dozen bus and rail connections are available at this location. NOTE: The Montclair Station is not part of the fully funded project currently under construction.
Will the future stations have parking?
Yes. All future stations will have parking facilities built adjacent to or across the street from the new stations. All station parking facilities are planned to be multi-modal – including bicycle parking, drop-off areas for buses and ride-sharing, along with easy access for pedestrians. At the Pomona Station, parking is anticipated to be shared with Metrolink (as is the case for the currently unfunded future Claremont and Montclair stations); although all operational decisions are made by LA Metro. To view the location of the station parking facilities, click on the site plan of interest: Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona. Site plans for the future (currently unfunded) stations: Claremont and Montclair.
Will the Metrolink Station stay in Claremont?
Yes. However, as part of the currently unfunded project segment from Pomona to Montclair, the Claremont Metrolink Station is planned to be relocated from its current location west of College Avenue to a new location just east of College Avenue (near the future parking facility). This change will take place as part of the Pomona to Montclair phase of construction; which is currently unfunded.
How is the Metro A Line different than Metrolink?
The Metro light rail system and Metrolink are two different train systems operated by separate agencies and generally serving different travel markets.
Metro A Line trains are light rail vehicles that are powered by electricity and have an overhead catenary system to provide power to the trains. They connect community to community and have stations about every mile. Metro A Line trains run about 22-hours a day, with frequent service throughout the day, seven days a week.
Metrolink is an inter-county commuter rail system that serves Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County. Metrolink trains are heavy rail vehicles, powered by diesel locomotives, that service longer distance trips. They make fewer stops and primarily operate during peak commuting hours in the morning and afternoon/evening, with less frequency during off peak times.
What does it mean that the A Line/Gold Line will be in a shared corridor with Metrolink and freight? Will the future trains use the same tracks as Metrolink and BNSF freight trains?
The Construction Authority will be building the new light rail line within an existing rail corridor that is currently used by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) freight service throughout, and Metrolink service from Cambridge Avenue in Claremont east.
The right of way owned for the rail corridor is approximately 100-feet wide on average; generally providing enough room to fit the existing freight and Metrolink tracks and future A Line/Gold Line tracks. However, because the existing tracks are currently located in the middle of the rail corridor, they will be relocated within the shared corridor to make room for the two new light rail tracks. From the APU/Citrus College Station to Lone Hill Avenue (Glendora) and from Towne Avenue (Pomona) east, the freight and/or Metrolink track(s) has been or will be relocated to the southern portion of the rail corridor and the light rail tracks built on the northern portion. Between Lone Hill Avenue and Towne Avenue, the freight tracks has been or will be relocated to the northern portion and the light rail tracks built on the southern portion. This is to allow BNSF to continue to service existing customers and Metrolink to continue service to their stations.
Will the Gold Line trains cross intersections at street level or be elevated on bridges?
Grade crossings are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission and include at-grade crossings (where the train crosses a street at street level), grade-separated crossings (where the train crosses the street on a bridge and is therefore separated from street traffic) and pedestrian crossings (where pedestrians cross the tracks). There are about 50 total grade crossings included in the Glendora to Montclair project; about half are at-grade crossings and half are grade-separated.
The CPUC has determined that the project must grade-separate the following intersections (for A Line/Gold Line trains only):
• Grand Avenue/Foothill Avenue (Glendora) – completed
• Route 66 (Glendora) – completed
• Lone Hill Avenue (Glendora) – completed
• Bonita Avenue/Cataract Avenue (San Dimas) – completed
• Garey Avenue (Pomona) – future bridge (part of Pomona to Montclair segment)
• Towne Avenue (Pomona) – future bridge (part of Pomona to Montclair segment)
• Indian Hill Boulevard (Claremont) – future bridge (part of Pomona to Montclair segment)
• Monte Vista Avenue (Montclair) – future bridge (part of Pomona to Montclair segment)
A Line/Gold Line trains will cross all other streets at-grade, or at street level, typically using a new safety gate system that closes off the rail corridor from cars and pedestrians when a train is approaching. All crossings that cross a local street will be improved as part of the project and upgraded with new safety equipment.
How often do Metro A Line trains run?
Los Angeles County Metro is a separate agency from the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority. LA Metro operates the A Line and determines the train schedule. Once construction is complete and the line is turned over to them for operations, Metro will determine the frequency of service for the new stations.
For more about the current train schedule, please go to www.metro.net or contact Metro’s customer relations team at 1-323-Go Metro.
How long will it take to travel between Montclair and Pasadena? Between Montclair and Los Angeles?
We estimate that a trip between Montclair and downtown Pasadena will take just over 40 minutes, and a trip between Montclair and Los Angeles Union Station will take just over an hour.
See the table below for estimates of travel times from Glendora to Montclair segment stations:
Time in Minutes | |||
Glendora to Montclair: | Added Travel Time* | Time to Sierra Madre Villa Station (+19 min) | Time to Union Station (+29 min) |
Glendora | 3 | 22 | 51 |
San Dimas | 5 | 27 | 56 |
La Verne | 4 | 31 | 60 |
Pomona | 2 | 33 | 62 |
Claremont | 3 | 36 | 65 |
Montclair | 2 | 38 | 67 |
* Added travel times are approximate and will be determined by LA Metro.
What temporary and permanent changes should I expect as a resident, worker or business near the new Gold Line corridor as the project is built?
During construction, the community can expect temporary impacts (such as short-term lane closures, extended street closures at street crossings, noise mostly from construction vehicles during limited construction hours, and other construction-related activities). Notices and signage will be used to warn of these temporary conditions.
Permanent changes will also occur due to the project, including safety enhancements at all street crossings (new safety gates, raised medians, red curbing and turn restrictions within 100 feet of the rail corridor at all street crossings), relocation of the freight/Metrolink tracks within the shared rail corridor to make room for the two new A Line/ Gold Line tracks, new fencing and walls will be built along the entire rail corridor, and new overhead lines to power the new light rail system. New light rail bridges (for the A Line/Gold Line only) will be built over some streets (as required by the Californnia Public Utilities Commission for safety), and any existing freight bridge will also be relocated. For specific details on the permanent changes occurring in a station-city of interest, see more information on the city-station pages of this website.
Is there an extension planned to connect the Gold Line from Montclair to Ontario Airport?
While a connection to Ontario Airport is frequently talked about as the final leg for the Foothill Gold Line, there are currently no plans or funding to move forward with building the segment.
I have questions about the Foothill Gold Line project or upcoming construction. Who can I speak to?
Here is how you can get your questions answered:
By Phone or Email:
The Kiewit-Parsons JV team has a construction hotline and email address for construction-related questions; while general project questions should continue to be sent to the Construction Authority:
Project Construction Questions
Hotline: (626) 513-5788
Email: CommunityRelations@Kiewit-Parsons.com
General Project Questions
Call: (626) 471-9050
Email: PublicAffairs@foothillgoldline.org
In Person:
Construction Authority Headquarters
406 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 202
Monrovia, CA 91016
Office Hours: Mon – Thurs, 9 AM – 4 PM
Construction Public Information Office
2100 E. Route 66, Suite 200
Glendora, CA 91740
Office Hours: Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 4 PM
How can I stay updated on current or the future construction?
Receiving progress reports and construction alerts on the Foothill Gold Line is easy. Register online here to begin receiving our project e-newsletter to your email.
Who do I talk to about contracting and job opportunities with the Construction Authority?
Job openings and contracting opportunities will be posted on the website under the Contracting/Jobs tab. To register to receive information on upcoming contracting opportunities with the Construction Authority, register here.