Foothill Gold Line E-News

September 2024

The Glendora to Pomona project is now more than 90% complete and remains on time to reach substantial completion the first week of 2025. As we near the end of September, crews continue to focus on completing testing of the new light rail system and completing the four new stations, plaza areas and associated parking facilities. Crews are also out completing final details of work along the corridor; some of which will not be done until after substantial completion. Details on these – and other – activities are provided in this newsletter.

Additionally, the Pomona to Montclair project has reached its next milestone with release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to the Kiewit design-build team earlier this month. The team will have several months to complete their detailed review of the project and provide a firm, fixed price to complete the 3.2-mile, two-station project. In the meantime, the Construction Authority is working with Metro and SBCTA on the necessary agreements to be prepared to award a contract in the Spring and be able to start work thereafter.

Read on to learn more about current construction activities underway from Glendora to Pomona and the latest on the Pomona to Montclair segment.

Active Train Testing Underway (Mostly at Night)

Photos: Active train testing underway at night in Pomona

As seen in the photos above, active train testing continues to be underway throughout the 9.1-mile Glendora to Pomona project corridor, with crews running multiple light rail vehicles that operate on their own power to test all elements of the new light rail system, including the tracks, train control, power, communications systems and safety features. This critical phase of the project, called systems integration testing, will continue through the end of the year to ensure that all of the new systems work together as designed. Nearly all of the active train testing is taking place during nighttime hours to allow construction to continue throughout the corridor during daytime hours; however, some intermittent testing is expected to take place during the day (as needed).

Photo: Active train testing underway at night in La Verne

Stay Safe, Be Alert

Crews are now running trains up to their maximum speed of 55 MPH during active train testing. It is important that residents, commuters and pedestrians be aware and alert and follow all safety rules near the train tracks. Important activities and rules to be aware of:

• Crossing gate arms will drop throughout the work shift when testing is taking place.
• Vehicular and pedestrian traffic through the grade crossings will be stopped when gates are down; and resume as normal once gate arms are raised.
• Never walk on the train tracks.
• Never go around the lowered gates.
• Follow all safety instructions, obey all warning signs and watch for trains from both directions.

For more information on the active train testing and safety precautions, click here for the construction notice.

Four New Stations

Crews continue to make substantial progress constructing the four new light rail stations. Work is ongoing on and around the station platforms, including the walkways and plazas, as well as the associated parking facilities. Working out of their studios and fabrication facilities, each station’s artist/artist team continues to bring their art pieces to reality, with most of their pieces already completed and installed or awaiting installation.

All four stations will be center platform stations, with a track on each side – one for westbound trains, and one for eastbound trains – and each station’s parking facility will feature amenities for riders arriving by bike, walking, bus and drop-off.

Glendora Station

Photos: (top) Future Glendora station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing tactile pavers on station platform

At the future Glendora station, crews continue to carry out work on and around the station platform. As seen in the photos above, crews are currently installing tactile pavers along the edges of the platform. The tactile pavers provide visual and tactile warnings to future riders as they approach the edge of the station platform. When this work is completed, crews will install the architectural pavers for the walking and standing areas of the platform.

Photos: (top) Crews constructing walkway from Glendora and Vermont Aves to the pedestrian undercrossing; (bottom) Retaining wall for walkway to undercrossing

Just south of the platform, progress also continues on the walkway to the pedestrian undercrossing, which will allow future passengers safe access to the station platform from the east and south by walking under the freight track and eastbound light rail track. As seen in the photos above, crews are currently constructing the walkway and retaining walls for the walkway, which feature citrus patterns.

Photos: (top) Future Glendora station parking facility construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing light poles throughout surface lot

Crews also continue to construct the station parking facility that’s south of the station. As seen in the photos above, crews are installing light poles throughout the future surface lot.

Photos: Tile mosaic installation for art columns on future Glendora station platform, overseen by Glendora station artist Michael Hillman (top)

Over the past few weeks, Glendora station artist Michael Hillman has overseen installation of the tile mosaics he designed for the station area’s eight art columns. Crews installed the mosaics for the four columns located on the station platform and the other four columns located at the station entrances on Vermont Ave. and Glendora Ave. Each mosaic is made up of more than 28,000 individual Italian-made tesserae glass tiles, with imagery created that includes citrus, the foothills, bougainvillea and the brodiaea filifolia flower. Michael drew inspiration for these art columns from the columns found at the Palau de Musica concert hall in Barcelona, Spain.

Photos: (top) Glendora station artist Michael Hillman and Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian standing by completed tile mosaic installations for art columns by west station entrance at future Glendora station; (bottom) Michael Hillman with art columns by east station entrance

San Dimas Station

Photos: (top) Future San Dimas station construction underway; (bottom) Crews constructing walkway entrance to station platform

At the future San Dimas station, crews are currently constructing the walkway entrance from the sidewalk on San Dimas Ave. to the station platform ramp, as seen in the photos above. The walkway will allow future riders to safely walk across the eastbound light rail track to get onto the platform.

Photos: (top) Future San Dimas station parking facility construction underway; (bottom) Crews carrying out underground utility work

Across the street and west of the future station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility, and are currently completing final underground utility work, as seen in the photos above.

La Verne Station

Photos: (top) Future La Verne station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing architectural pavers on station platform

At the future La Verne station, crews are nearing completion on the installation of the architectural pavers for the walking and standing areas of the platform, as seen in the photos above. The color of the architectural pavers is part of the overall color palette of the station platform structures (such as the canopies and roof elements), which reflect the natural colors found in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley.

Photo: Crews installing concrete column bases for ticketing area canopy at future La Verne station

At the ticketing area canopies, crews are currently installing the decorative concrete column bases, as seen in the photo above.

Photos: (top) Future La Verne station parking facility construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing light poles throughout surface lot

South of the platform, crews also continue to construct the station parking facility, and are currently installing light poles throughout the future surface lot, as seen in the photos above.

Photos: Crews constructing foundations (top) for La Verne station art structures designed by La Verne station artist Blue McRight (bottom)

At the station plaza area, crews have begun constructing the foundations for the three art sculptures, designed by La Verne station artist Blue McRight, as seen in the photos above. Soon, crews will install the three ten-foot-tall sculptures that pay homage to La Verne’s history and architecture, as well as the community’s connection to water and agriculture.

Pomona Station

Photos: (top) Future Pomona station construction underway; (middle) Crews installing diamond-shaped shingles atop main boarding canopy; (bottom) Crews completing work on the completed glass panel installation atop one of the east ticketing area canopies

At the future Pomona station, crews are nearing completion on installation of the decorative roof elements atop the station’s canopy structures. As seen in the photos above, crews have installed the glass panels atop the ticketing area canopies and are nearly finished with adding the diamond-shaped shingles atop the main boarding canopy.

Photo: Crews constructing west entrance to future Pomona station platform

Crews also continue to construct the west entrance to the station platform, as seen in the photo above.

Photos: (top) Future Pomona station parking facility construction underway; (bottom) Crews carrying out underground utility work

Southeast of the future Pomona station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility, and are currently completing final underground utility work, as seen in the photos above.

Photo: Crews completing final work on westernmost section of Pomona North Metrolink parking lot ahead of reopening

And just south of the future station, crews continue to rebuild the existing parking area for the Pomona North Metrolink station. At the end of this month, the westernmost section of the parking lot, along with the Fulton Rd. entrance, will be reopened for use after crews complete all the necessary work rebuilding this section. However, beginning the next day (October 1) and continuing through the end of 2024, crews will fully close the center and easternmost sections of the parking lot, as well as the entrance via Santa Fe St., to vehicles to complete final work on these areas. Pedestrian access via Santa Fe St. will be maintained. For information on the closure and work, click here.

Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements

In the final months of 2024 (and if needed, continuing after substantial completion), crews will continue to work at the grade crossings throughout the project to complete final details. At a few crossings, more significant work is still taking place. Crews will continue to implement intermittent lane closures in Glendora at the Lone Hill Ave. crossing (click here for notice), and in Pomona at the Garey Ave. crossing (click here for notice – available in Spanish) and at Garey Ave./Grevillia Ave. (click here for notice).

Corridor-Wide Fencing Installation Nearing Completion

Photos: Completed fence installation along corridor (top) and stations (middle); (bottom) Crews installing fencing at future La Verne station area

Throughout the corridor, crews are nearing completion on the installation of miles of fencing to prevent unauthorized access to the train tracks. As seen in the photos above, crews have installed nearly all of the fencing along the corridor between the stations, and are now completing the fencing installation at the station areas.

To see more of these and other activities that took place this past month, click here or below to watch the latest project highlight video.

Pomona to Montclair Segment: Procurement Process Reaches Next Milestone

Graphics: Artist renderings of future Claremont (top) and Montclair (bottom) stations

The approximately 15-month procurement process that began in March 2024 to hire the design-builder for the 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair project has now reached its next milestone with release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to the Kiewit design-build team earlier this month. This follows the Foothill Gold Line board’s action in July to approve short-listing the Kiewit design-build team, after several evaluation committees reviewed the team’s statement of qualifications submittal and deemed the team qualified on all evaluation categories. The team will have several months to prepare their proposal, which will provide a firm, fixed price to complete the project. In the meantime, the Construction Authority continues to work on the necessary agreements with Metro and SBCTA to award a contract in the Spring and start work thereafter.

Streetsblog LA Interview with Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian

Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian recently sat down with Streetsblog LA’s SGV Connect podcast to talk about the latest and what to expect next year for the Glendora to Pomona and Pomona to Montclair project segments, as well as the importance and benefits of the project to the San Gabriel Valley region.

To listen to the interview, click here. You can also read the transcript of the interview by clicking here.

Foothill Gold Line Booths at Community Events in October

Photo: Foothill Gold Line booth at past community events

Foothill Gold Line and KPJV staff will be hosting information booths at community events next month in Pomona and Claremont. Stop by our booths to ask staff questions and learn more about the Foothill Gold Line. See below for more information on the events.

4th Annual Kindness Carnival

WHEN: Saturday, October 5 – 2 PM to 5 PM
WHERE: Washington Park, 865 E. Grand Ave., Pomona, CA 91766

Click here for more information.

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42nd Annual Village Venture Arts & Crafts Festival

WHEN: Saturday, October 26 – 9 AM to 5 PM
WHERE: Claremont Village, 205 Yale Ave., Claremont, CA 91711

Click here for more information.

Thank you for your continued interest in the Foothill Gold Line. We appreciate your patience as we build this important regional project.

Lisa Levy Buch, Chief Communications and Strategic Development Officer and the Public Affairs Team