Foothill Gold Line E-News

July 2021

UPDATES: Eucla Ave. Reopens; Other Grade Crossing Updates; Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. Intersection and Bridge; Bridge Work in Glendora and La Verne; La Verne Station; Glendora Station; Freight Track Relocation in Glendora; Project Update Video

Eucla Ave. Grade Crossing Reopens Ahead of Schedule

Photo: Eucla Ave. grade crossing in San Dimas reopens

Last Friday, the Eucla Ave. grade crossing in San Dimas, which closed for reconstruction in early March, repened to motorists and pedestrians. During the four-month closure, crews completed extensive underground utility work; rebuilt the roadway, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and medians; installed two new light rail tracks and the relocated freight track; and installed a host of safety improvements.

With the reopening of Eucla Ave., there are now nine at-grade crossings that have undergone reconstruction and have reopened.

Five Grade Crossings Currently Under Construction

Photos: (Top) Crews installing crossing gate foundations at Vermont Ave. grade crossing in Glendora; (Bottom) Pasadena Ave. grade crossing in Glendora

Throughout the corridor, there are currently five grade crossings underway with reconstruction: Vermont Ave., Pasadena Ave. and Loraine Ave. in Glendora; Walnut Ave. in San Dimas; and E St. in La Verne.

At all of these crossings, crews continue to make progress relocating and protecting underground water, sewer, gas, communications and power lines; and will then move on to installing new tracks and safety equipment, and rebuilding the roadway, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and medians.

Photos: (Top) Crews potholing to verify underground utilities at Loraine Ave. grade crossing in Glendora; (Bottom) Crews building new storm drain at Walnut Ave. grade crossing in San Dimas

At the E St. grade crossing in La Verne (shown below), crews are nearing the final stages of the underground utility work, and have begun building the initial layers for the relocated freight track that will be installed across the crossing as part of the reconstruction. Because the full relocation of the freight track through this area of the corridor will not occur until later this year, the existing freight track west and east of the E St. crossing will be temporarily realigned to connect and utilize the new, relocated freight track segment at the crossing as part of the final stages of the crossing work.

The E St. crossing is anticipated to reopen in the next few weeks, in early August.

Photo: E St. grade crossing in La Verne

Upcoming Closure – D St., La Verne

Once the E St. crossing reopens (anticipated for early August), crews will begin reconstructing the grade crossing on the neighboring D St. (north of Arrow Hwy.) in La Verne. This work will require a full closure of D St. at the railroad crossing to motorists and pedestrians for several months.

If you know anyone who may be impacted by this street closure, please encourage them to sign up for Construction Alerts at www.foothillgoldline.org.

Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. Intersection Reconstruction and Bridge Work in San Dimas

Photo: Motorists using new eastbound lanes on Bonita Ave.

At the intersection of Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. in San Dimas, crews recently completed the construction of new eastbound lanes on Bonita Ave. on a parcel of land just west of the intersection. This work was part of the first of a four-phased construction plan to reconfigure the intersection – required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for safety.

With Phase 2 now in full effect, traffic on Bonita Ave. has been shifted to these new eastbound lanes, allowing crews to begin work on the foundations for the future light rail bridge without having to close lanes or streets during this phase of work.

Future phases will require the closure of Cataract Ave. and Bonita Ave., but the phased plan minimizes the necessary closure time for Bonita Ave.

To learn about the phased construction plan for the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection, click here to read the construction notice. You can also read a fact sheet that provides an overview of the intersection improvements and future light rail bridge (click here).

Photo: Crews beginning work on the foundations for the future light rail bridge over Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. in San Dimas

Bridge Work in Glendora and La Verne

Photo: Retaining walls for the western approach of the future light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora

At the intersection of Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora, crews have begun building the retaining walls of the western approach for the future light rail bridge that will carry Gold Line trains over the intersection. As seen in the photo above, the walls for the approach will consist of custom form panels that feature the project’s citrus design – and span approximately 1,250 feet in length.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) required this bridge to be built over the intersection to improve safety for both the new light rail system and city streets, as the result of the estimated 200+ light rail trains that will cross this intersection each day in the future.

As part of the plan for the bridge and intersection, the existing freight track will be relocated south of its current position within the existing railroad corridor and remain at street level, and the intersection of Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. will be reconfigured. Pedestrian access will be maintained under the future bridge.

To understand what the future light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. will look like, click here to see 3D simulations.

Photo: Crews installing concrete girder for new freight bridge over Live Oak Wash in La Verne

As seen in the photo above, crews recently installed concrete girders for a new freight bridge over Live Oak Wash in La Verne. The freight track will be relocated onto the new structure in the future. In total, two bridge structures will be built over Live Oak Wash: one for the light rail system and one for the relocated freight system.

Making Way for Future La Verne Station Parking Facility

Photos: Crews demolishing industrial warehouse at site of future La Verne station parking facility

At the site of the future parking facility for the La Verne station, crews are demolishing the existing industrial warehouse. In its place in the future will be a 299-space surface parking lot for Metro riders, as well as amenities for riders arriving by walking, bicycle, bus and drop-off. To view the site plan for the future La Verne station and associated parking facility, click here.

As a reminder, in January 2021, the Construction Authority Board of Directors certified a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for the project, approving project modifications to the station parking facilities in Los Angeles County. The modifications include building surface lots (with reduced total parking spaces) at the Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona stations; increasing the land needed for the Glendora and San Dimas facilities; and also approving a new location for the Pomona Station parking facility. The parking facilities will be built later in the project. Details on the project modifications and the Final SEIR are available on the Construction Authority’s website.

Glendora Station Construction

Photo: Ramp to future Glendora station platform

At the site of the future Glendora station, crews have now completed the major structures of the pedestrian undercrossing that will provide riders access to the station platform. As seen in the photo above, the walls of the ramp to the station platform have been completed. Future riders will walk up this ramp – seeing the citrus design patterns on the walls – and onto the Glendora Station platform to board the trains.

Freight Track Outage in Glendora Extended, Service May Resume as Early as August 1

Photo: Crews weldng rail pieces together for the relocated freight track in Glendora

The freight track outage in Glendora has been extended another month, allowing crews a little more time to complete the relocation of five miles of freight track between Barranca Ave. and Gladstone St. As seen in the photo above, crews are currently welding together the rail pieces that make up the freight track.

Freight service may resume as early as August 1. The Construction Authority will notify the community when we have received confirmation on the resuming of freight service.

To see more of these and other activities that took place this past month, click here or below to watch the June 2021 project 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