Foothill Gold Line E-News

February 2019

Project Update: Metro Commits to Fund Gold Line to Pomona

Metro Board Commits to Fund Estimated Shortfall to Build the Gold Line to Pomona

At their January meeting, the Metro board of directors unanimously agreed to finalize negotiations with the Construction Authority and ensure sufficient funding to be able to build to the Pomona Station as part of the base design-build contract for the Glendora to Montclair project. This commitment by Metro closes the recently identified estimated funding shortfall to be able to build the project to Pomona by 2025. At the same meeting, the board also reconfirmed their commitment to completing the project to Montclair, and pledged to work with the Construction Authority to seek the funding needed to be able to complete the project to Montclair by 2028.

Following the Metro board decision, the Construction Authority released an RFP Addendum to the remaining design-build teams competing for the project. With this Addendum, the base project within the design-build contract now includes the Pomona Station. The contract also includes an option to have the winning team complete the entire project to Montclair if sufficient funds are secured within the first two years following the issuance of the notice to proceed.

Revised bids from the design-build teams are due in May, and the Construction Authority anticipates awarding a contract in July. At the time of award, the Construction Authority will have the final cost for the project.

What’s Next?

A draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) is under development and is anticipated to be released this spring for a 45-day public review period.

The Draft SEIR will evaluate impacts associated with the potential for the La Verne or Pomona Station to become a possible temporary terminus, in the event that the additional funding needed to be able to build to Montclair is not secured in time to be made part of the currently ongoing design-build procurement. The Draft SEIR is also evaluating impacts of relocating the future parking facility for the Pomona Station from the north side of the station to the south side.

Learn more about the SEIR by clicking here.

Construction Update: Old Switch Tracks Removed as Part of Ongoing Pole Elimination Project

Late last month, crews removed old switch tracks in Glendora that are no longer needed for freight operation. This work is part of the ongoing pole elimination project that is relocating the communication system for the freight operations from the currently used overhead power lines underground. This work is being completed ahead of the design-build contractor beginning major construction and will afford the room necessary within the shared rail corridor to install the light rail system.

What’s Next?

It is anticipated that live testing of the relocated communication system will take place next month, which will involve several trials with an active freight train.

The pole elimination project, which started in July 2018, will be completed this summer.

Below are photos of the switch track removal, as well as the recent pole elimination work:

Crews removing old switch tracks

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Crews relocating freight communication system