Foothill Gold Line E-News

May 2023

Glendora to Pomona Project Now 71% Complete; Station Updates (Plus Art); Light Rail Track, Power and Train Control Installation; Bridgework; Upcoming, Ongoing Grade Crossing Work

The 9.1-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project is now 71% complete, and continues to remain on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in early-January 2025. To date, crews have completed all of the freight track relocation; major bridgework for the project’s 19 new or renovated bridges; and reconstruction activities requiring long-term street closures at the project’s 21 at-grade street crossings. On June 24, the Construction Authority will be hosting a Track Completion Ceremony when crews will install the final rail clip to complete the light rail track system from end to end.

This past month, crews have been focused on installing the new light rail tracks, as well as constructing the various elements that make up the rest of the light rail system, including the four new stations and power and train control systems. Read the latest below.

Four New Stations

Crews are now halfway complete with construction of the four new light rail stations. On any given day, work is underway on the various components (platforms, light rail tracks, canopies, communications and power, etc.) that make up the future stations; and behind the scenes, the station artists are making progress fabricating their public artworks. 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

Photos: Crews installing canopy frames for the future Glendora station

Crews recently completed the installation of the canopy frames for the future Glendora station, as seen in the photos above. The frames were fabricated locally in Pomona, brought in by truck in pieces and welded together on-site. The largest of the pieces – the frames for the ticket vending machine canopies on the west and east ends of the platform – weigh more than 14,000 pounds each.

Photo: Crews installing communications bungalow for future Glendora station

As seen in the photo above, crews also recently installed the communications bungalow that will house the communications equipment for the station.

Photos: (top) Glendora station artist Michael Hillman, Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian and Foothill Gold Line station art manager Lesley Elwood reviewing the art columns; (bottom) Preview of art tile samples that will be installed onto the columns

About 30 miles away from the station site, crews in Norco have been fabricating the art columns that will be installed at the future Glendora station. As seen in the photos above, Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian and staff, along with Glendora station artist Michael Hillman, recently visited the fabricator to check in on the progress of the columns. The art columns were designed by Michael and inspired by columns found at the Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera House in Barcelona, Spain. Michael will soon begin his work adding thousands of Bisazza glass mosaic tiles to the eight structures – each will evoke different imagery of the city of Glendora.

San Dimas Station

Photo: Crews fabricating the canopy frames for the future San Dimas station

As seen in the photo above, crews are currently fabricating the station canopy frames for the future San Dimas station. As the pieces become ready over the next few weeks, they will be brought to the station site for installation.

Photo: Crews installing communications bungalow for future San Dimas station

In addition, crews recently installed the communications bungalow (see photo above) that will house the communications equipment for the station.

Photos: San Dimas station artist team of Eugene and Anne Olsen Daub showing off in-progress and completed art tiles for future San Dimas station

Earlier this month, Construction Authority staff visited the San Dimas station artist team of Eugene Daub and Anne Olsen Daub at their studio to take a look at a few of their completed and in-progress bas-relief ceramic tiles that will be placed on the canopy column bases along the station platform. As seen in the photos above, the tiles feature wildlife and landscapes found throughout San Dimas.

La Verne Station

Photo: Future La Verne station

At the future La Verne station, crews have completed most of the platform deck, installed the light rail tracks, installed the overhead catenary system (OCS) poles and will soon install the overhead wires onto those poles, which will provide power for the light rail trains (more on the overhead wires below).

Photo: Crews installing communications bungalow for future La Verne station

As seen in the photo above, crews recently installed the communications bungalow just east of the station area, which will house the communications equipment for the station.

Pomona Station

Photo: Future Pomona station

With most of the platform deck completed, crews are currently focused on constructing the entrance ramps and installing the conduit that will house the communications and power lines for the station. Crews will soon begin installing the light rail tracks at the station.

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

Work continues to be underway on the light rail tracks (72% complete), power (54% complete) and train control (60% complete) systems that make up the light rail system. Each are being constructed by separate, specialized crews that coordinate extensively with one another.

Photo: Crews installing light rail track crossovers in Pomona

As noted earlier, the light rail track system from Glendora to Pomona is nearing completion. There are now only a few stretches along the 9.1-mile corridor where the light rail track installation has yet to be completed.

As seen in the photo above, crews continue to construct crossovers as part of the light rail track system. Crossovers are sets of two track switches that will allow future light rail trains to switch between the two light rail tracks.

Photo: Crews installing OCS poles in Glendora

In the areas where the light rail tracks are mostly completed, crews continue to install the poles for the overhead catenary system (OCS) onto foundations built about every 200 feet along the corridor, as seen in the photo above. Each pole weighs about 1,200 pounds.

Photo: Crews installing overhead wires across the OCS poles in La Verne

Crews also continue to install the overhead wires across the OCS poles along stretches of San Dimas and La Verne. The overhead wires provide power to the light rail train when the train’s pantograph comes into contact with the wire (light rail trains run on electricity).

Photo: Crews installing underground cables for electrical and communications systems in La Verne

In addition, as seen in the photo above, crews are also installing underground cables for the electrical and communications systems, some which will provide power for the guideway lights that are affixed to the OCS poles (not all OCS poles have guideway lights).

Connecting Bridges to Light Rail System

With all 19 bridges from Glendora to Pomona completed, crews continue to focus working at the four major new light rail bridges in Glendora and San Dimas to install the light rail tracks and complete work on the approaches to the west and east of each bridge. Below are updates on the four major light rail bridges (from west to east):

Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Completed light rail track installation on the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. bridge

As seen in the photos above and below, the track crews recently completed the light rail track installation on the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. light rail bridge in Glendora, and have now begun installing the light rail tracks atop the east approach.

Photo: Crews installing light rail tracks atop the east approach for the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. bridge

To the west, crews are currently installing sound wall panels atop the west approach, as seen in the photo below.

Photo: Crews installing sound walls atop the west approach for the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. bridge

Route 66 Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Completed light rail track installation on the Route 66 light rail bridge (existing freight bridge to the right)

Of the four major light rail bridges, progress has been furthest along on the Route 66 light rail bridge in Glendora. As seen in the photos above and below, crews have completed nearly all of the light rail track installation atop the bridge and approaches to the west and east.

Photos: Light rail track installation on the west (top) and east (bottom) approaches

Lone Hill Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photos: Crews installing light rail tracks on the Lone Hill Ave. light rail bridge

As seen in the photos above, crews recently began installing the light rail tracks on the Lone Hill Ave. light rail bridge in Glendora. It is the last of the four major light rail bridges to have the light rail tracks installed. Measuring nearly 350 feet in length, the Lone Hill Ave. bridge is the largest of the 19 bridges built from Glendora to Pomona. Its size and height allows freight trains to change positions within the shared corridor while crossing underneath.

Photos: (top) Light rail track installation on the west approach; (bottom) Crews preparing east approach for light rail track installation for Lone Hill Ave. light rail bridge

To the west, crews have also begun installing the light rail tracks atop the west approach, as seen in the photo above. To the east, crews are preparing the east approach for the light rail track installation.

NOTE: Crews will begin a five-day full closure of the Lone Hill Ave. crossing on June 12 to complete final work on the roadway, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, as well as some work on the bridge abutments. For more information, click here.

Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Completed light rail track installation on Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge

With the light rail track installation completed (see photo above) on the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge in San Dimas, crews have been focused on completing work on the approaches to the west and east.

Photo: Crews installing light rail tracks on the west approach for the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge

As seen in the photo above, crews continue to install the light rail tracks atop the west approach. To the east, crews are currently installing the sound wall panels atop the east approach (see photo below), and will also soon begin light rail track installation as well.

Photo: Crews installing sound walls atop the east approach for the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge

Upcoming Street Closures: Lone Hill Ave. (Glendora) and Walnut Ave. (San Dimas)

While the most impactful reconstruction activities are now completed at all of the project’s 21 at-grade crossings, crews will return to each crossing throughout this year to complete remaining work, beginning with work at Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora and Walnut Ave. in San Dimas. Both will require short-term full closures in June.

On June 12, crews will begin a five-day full closure of the Lone Hill Ave. crossing in Glendora to complete work on the roadway, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, as well as work on the bridge abutments. The street will be fully closed to vehicles and pedestrians between Auto Centre Dr. and Glendora Marketplace 24 hours a day for the duration of the work. For more information on the full closure, including detours and bus routes, click here.

On June 10, for one day only, crews will fully close the Walnut Ave. crossing just north of Arrow Highway in San Dimas to complete work on the roadway and medians. For more information, including detours, click here.

Ongoing Crossing Work in Glendora

Photo: Crews installing crossing gate arms at the Glendora Ave. crossing in Glendora

Throughout the corridor, crews are currently going from crossing to crossing to install the new crossing gates (see photo above) that prevent vehicles and pedestrians from entering the railroad crossing when light rail trains approach. As you may have seen in our past video – “Designing Safe At-Grade Crossings From Glendora to Pomona” (click here to watch) – each grade crossing where future light rail trains will travel is being upgraded with four crossing gates to block all directions of vehicular traffic, and pedestrian gates to block the sidewalks.

Elsewhere, crews continue to work at the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection and at Route 66 (between Compromise Line Rd. and Hunters Trail) in Glendora.

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

At the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection, 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: Route 66 in Glendora

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. For more information, click here for the notice.

And just last week, final adjustments and programming for the traffic signals at the intersection of Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. in San Dimas were completed. That allowed all traffic movements at the intersection to be fully opened and available. Thank you for your patience as this final work at the intersection took longer than expected.

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.

Join Us! Foothill Gold Line Track Completion Ceremony on June 24, 2023

Graphic: Track Completion Ceremony invitation (click to enlarge)

Join local and regional officials, the project contractor, station artists, and the entire Foothill Gold Line team as we drive in the last of the project’s 230,630 rail clips to complete the new light rail track system – and begin the countdown to construction completion for the four-station Foothill Gold Line from Glendora to Pomona. All are welcome!

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Event Parking: 2021 D Street, La Verne CA 91750 (ULV Parking Structure). Google Maps link.

Arrive by Bus: Map your route – www.foothilltransit.org

NOTE: D Street will be closed to vehicles between Arrow Hwy and 2nd St.

Metro Regional Connector to Open for Passenger Service on June 16, Turning the Foothill Gold Line From the L Line to the A Line and From the Color Gold to Blue

Graphic: Regional Connector map

On June 16, LA Metro will begin passenger service for the three-station Regional Connector in Downtown Los Angeles. The transformational project will merge several lines of the Metro system, reduce transfers through Downtown LA and create a single seat ride from the operational Foothill Gold Line stations all the way to Long Beach.

Once the Regional Connector opens, the L Line will no longer be part of the Metro system. All Foothill Gold Line stations will be part of the Metro A Line; and the color designations of the stations will change from gold to blue.

Learn more at the June 24 Track Completion Ceremony. Metro will host a booth at the event to answer your questions.

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