Foothill Gold Line E-News

February 2023

UPDATES: Final Grade Crossing Reconstruction; Bridgework; Stations; Light Rail Track, Power and Train Control Installation; Pomona to Montclair Segment Status; Project Update Video

As of this month, the Glendora to Pomona project has reached 64% construction completion overall. In the past few months, crews completed the last of the project’s 19 bridges (the largest one on the project, over Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora), continued installation of the new light rail track and power systems, and began work on the platform for the Pomona Station – the last of the four new stations to start taking shape. They also fully closed Garey Ave. in the city of Pomona to complete reconstruction activities that could not be done under lane closures. Garey Ave. is the last of the project’s 21 at-grade (street-level) crossings to undergo a long-term street closure; and next month – when the street reopens, and all 21 at-grade crossings will have completed major reconstruction activities – the majority of the project’s work activities that are considered most risky to an on-time completion will be behind us.

As we reach these important milestones for the Glendora to Pomona project segment, the Construction Authority continues to work with our project partners and state legislators to seek the funding needed to complete the project segment from Pomona to Montclair. Unfortunately, we learned late last month that the agency’s funding request to the State to fund the segment was unsuccessful. As always, completing the Foothill Gold Line has strong support at all levels – state and federal legislators, county officials, cities and organizations from throughout the San Gabriel Valley and the region. With that support, we are hopeful that the ongoing efforts will be successful, and our vision of connecting Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire by light rail will soon be realized.

Read more about these and other topics below, and thank you for your continued patience as we build the Foothill Gold Line.

Grade Crossings – Final Crossing Reconstruction for Project Underway at Garey Ave. in Pomona

Photo: Garey Ave. crossing reconstruction

Crews are currently at the halfway mark of the 45-day full closure of the Garey Ave. crossing in Pomona, which began on February 1 to allow reconstruction activities that could not be performed under lane closures. This is the last of the 21 at-grade crossings from Glendora to Pomona to undergo reconstruction that requires a long-term street closure, and we appreciate the community’s patience.

As seen in the photos above and below, crews have already installed the two relocated freight tracks (one mainline and one siding track), and are currently relocating and protecting numerous underground utilities and constructing new medians. Soon, crews will install additional safety improvements and rebuild the roadway before reopening the street. The street is expected to reopen on March 17.

For details on the ongoing closure, including detour routes and how to access the Pomona North Metrolink Station during the closure, please see the construction notices, available in English (click here to read) and Spanish (click here to read).

Photos: Crews installing relocated freight tracks (top), relocating and protecting underground utilities (middle) and constructing new medians (bottom) at Garey Ave. crossing

Ongoing Closures, Restrictions at Crossings in Glendora and San Dimas

While the most impactful reconstruction activities will be completed at all of the project’s 21 at-grade crossings when Garey Ave. is completed and reopens next month, crews will return to many of the project’s crossings throughout 2023 to complete remaining work. Some crossings will experience lane closures or short-term full, directional closures.

Crews are currently working, for instance, at the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection crossing and at the crossing on Route 66 between Compromise Line Rd. and Hunters Trail in Glendora; and at the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection crossing in San Dimas. More details below.

Photo: Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection in Glendora

While vehicle and pedestrian movements are mostly open at the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection (as seen in the photo above), crews continue to work at the intersection to complete the sidewalks, medians and landscaping. These activities require intermittent lane closures through June 2023. For more information, click here for the notice.

Photo: Crews utilizing lane closure at Route 66 in Glendora to construct emergency access and egress stairs

Along Route 66 between Compromise Line Rd. and Hunters Trail, crews continue to implement intermittent lane closures through December 2023 to complete work on the roadway, medians and curbs and gutters, as well as to safely construct emergency access and egress stairs for the corridor (as seen in the photo above). For more information, click here for the notice.

Photo: Crews testing new traffic signals at Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection in San Dimas

The Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection in San Dimas, although now open to motorists and pedestrians, continues to be under a temporary lane configuration with restricted movements to allow crews to safely complete the remaining work on the traffic signals (see photo above), street drainage and road paving. The temporary lane configuration has been extended through March 31 due to weather and issues related to delivery and installation of the traffic signal equipment. Click here for more information.

In addition, during the final phase of the intersection work, crews expect to fully close Bonita Ave. – one direction each day for two days – to final pave the roadway. Following the conclusion of this work, the intersection is expected to be fully reopened in all directions for motorists and pedestrians.

The Construction Authority appreciates the patience and understanding of residents and businesses around these crossings as we work to complete this important work.

Connecting Bridges to Light Rail System

With all 19 bridges from Glendora to Pomona completed, the KPJV structures team is now focused on constructing the elements that will allow trains to travel to and over them. Crews are working on the approaches to all of the bridges, as well as starting to install light rail tracks on top. Below are updates on the four major new light rail bridges (from west to east):

Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Completed light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora

With the new light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora complete, crews are now focused on constructing the approaches to the west and east. As seen in the photos below, crews continue to construct the retaining walls for the approach on the west, while at the east approach, crews are currently building foundations for the sound walls. Crews will later install sound walls when the approaches are completed. When completed, each approach will measure approximately 1,200 feet long.

Photos: Crews constructing the west approach (top) and sound wall foundations for the east approach (bottom) for the light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave.

Route 66 Light Rail Bridge

Photo: New light rail tracks installed across Route 66 light rail bridge in Glendora

As seen in the photo above, crews have completed the installation of the light rail tracks across the new light rail bridge over Route 66 in Glendora. These light rail tracks are constructed in a different manner than the tracks within the mid-blocks. While the light rail tracks within the main rail corridor are installed on top of layers of sub-ballast, ballast and concrete ties, the tracks over the bridges are fixed directly onto the bridge deck without those layers – a method called “direct fixation.” This design frees the bridge from having to carry the enormous weight of the ballast and ties. The Route 66 bridge is the first of the four major light rail bridges to have the light rail track installation completed, and the specialized crews building these tracks have now moved on to carrying out the same work atop the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge in San Dimas (more on that below).

Photo: Crews installing sound walls atop the east approach for the Route 66 light rail bridge in Glendora

To the east of Route 66, crews recently completed the construction of the retaining walls for the east approach to the bridge, and are now installing sound wall panels on top (as seen in the photo above).

Photo: Crews removing old paint from existing freight bridge over Route 66 in Glendora

In addition, crews have also begun the process of refreshing the existing freight bridge that sits adjacent to the new light rail bridge. As seen in the photo above, specialized environmental crews are currently removing the old paint from the freight bridge, and plan to repaint the bridge – including keeping the iconic Glendora city name – in the weeks ahead.

Lone Hill Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Completed light rail bridge over Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora

Measuring nearly 350 feet in length, the Lone Hill Ave. bridge is the largest of the 19 bridges being built from Glendora to Pomona, and was the last one to be completed. As seen in the photo above, the recently completed flyover bridge (which will allow freight trains to change positions within the shared corridor while crossing underneath) is now fully visible, revealing custom design patterns on the bridge abutments, columns and super-structure.

Photos: Crews constructing bridge walls on the west (top) and east (bottom) ends of the Lone Hill Ave. light rail bridge in Glendora

With the bridge completed, crews have been focused on constructing the bridge walls on the west and east ends of the super-structure (as seen in the photos above), and continuing construction of the approaches to the west and east (as seen in the photos below).

Photos: Crews constructing west (top) and east (bottom) approaches for Lone Hill Ave. light rail bridge in Glendora

Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Crews installing light rail tracks on Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge in San Dimas

As seen in the photo above, crews have begun installing the light rail tracks on top of the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. bridge in San Dimas, using the same direct fixation method described above for the Route 66 bridge, in which the tracks are installed directly onto the bridge structure.

Photos: Crews nearing completion on west approach (top) and continuing to construct east approach (top) for Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge in San Dimas

In addition, crews continue to be focused on constructing the approaches to the west and east of the light rail bridge. As seen in the photos above, the west approach is nearing completion and will stretch from just east of Eucla Ave. to the bridge. Over at the east approach, crews are now constructing the retaining walls on both sides of the pedestrian undercrossing at Monte Vista Ave., which has been open since last year to allow pedestrians access north and south through the crossing. The east approach will go from the bridge to just west of San Dimas Ave., bringing the future light rail trains to street level before reaching the future San Dimas station.

Station Construction Underway

Crews are currently more than a quarter complete with building the four new light rail stations. At the Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne stations, crews have completed nearly all of the platform deck work. They have also made tremendous progress this past month on the Pomona station platform. All four stations will be center platform stations, with a track on each side – one for westbound trains and one for eastbound trains.

Glendora Station

Photo: Crews grading for light rail tracks at future Glendora station

At the site of the future Glendora station, with the station platform deck mostly completed, crews are now grading the area adjacent to the platform in preparation for installing the light rail tracks. This work must be exact to ensure the light rail tracks – once built – will sit precisely at the height needed to allow future trains to match up exactly to the level of the already built station platform.

San Dimas Station

Photo: Crews constructing sound wall foundations at site of future San Dimas station

At the site of the future San Dimas station, crews continue to install the sound walls adjacent to the station platform. As seen in the photo above, most of the sound walls have been installed alongside the platform, and crews continue to build foundations and pilasters that will hold the sound wall panels.

La Verne Station

Photo: Crews installing overhead catenary system poles at site of future La Verne station

At the La Verne station, where the light rail tracks are already mostly installed on either side of the under-construction station, crews continue to make progress constructing other elements of the light rail system. As seen in the photo above, crews are beginning to install the overhead catenary system (OCS) poles that will carry the wires that power the light rail trains.

Pomona Station

Photos: Crews constructing walls for future Pomona station platform

Over the past month, after completing all of the underground work necessary, crews began work above ground at the future Pomona station. As seen in the photos above, in just a short time after putting down the foundations, crews have already completed the walls for the station platform, and will soon move on to constructing the station entrance ramps and platform deck.

The Pomona station is located just to the north of the Pomona North Metrolink station, and pathways are designed into the project to provide walking paths to easily transfer between the Metro and Metrolink systems.

To learn more about the plans for the future stations, see these fact sheets: Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona.

Light Rail Track, Power and Train Control Systems Underway

Crews continue to make progress constructing the various elements that come together to fully make up the light rail system: the light rail tracks, the power system and the train control system. Each requires separate specialized crews and extensive coordination.

Photo: Crews installing light rail tracks in San Dimas

As seen in the photo above, crews continue to install the new light rail tracks throughout the corridor.

Photos: Crews installing overhead catenary system poles in La Verne

In the areas where the light rail tracks are mostly completed, crews have begun installing the overhead catenary system (OCS) poles onto foundations built about every 200 feet along the corridor, as seen in the photos above. Each pole weighs about 1,200 pounds. Later in the project, the overhead wires will be installed onto these poles to provide power to the light rail system.

Photos: Crews installing bungalow (top) and underground conduit (bottom) for light rail power system in Pomona

Throughout the corridor, crews continue to install bungalows that house the train control equipment, as well as miles of underground conduit and cables that carry communications and power for the light rail system, as seen in the photos above (the bottom photo above will also be the site of the eighth and final traction power substation, which will be installed soon). These elements make up the train control system, which allows the light rail trains, crossing equipment and signals to communicate.

Pomona to Montclair Segment Status

In the January 2023 E-News Update, we stated that the project segment from Pomona to Montclair had been submitted for a full funding grant request in December 2022 to CalSTA. The grant application was a joint submission from the Construction Authority and LA Metro, and resulted from the State Legislature setting aside surplus budget dollars in last year’s budget for Southern California transit projects. The Foothill Gold Line was one of three priority projects submitted for funding by Los Angeles County.

As an update, the project was unfortunately not one of the projects selected to receive funding. While the news was very disappointing, the Construction Authority will continue to work with LA Metro, along with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels, to seek and secure the funding needed to complete the project to Montclair. In the meantime, Construction Authority staff are currently identifying early construction activities (such as utility protection and relocation, grade crossing reconstruction, freight track relocation and bridgework) that can be initiated to advance the Pomona to Montclair project and reduce the ultimate bid price from future design-build contractors.

Stay tuned for more information in future E-News Updates.

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

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