Foothill Gold Line E-News

August 2024

With just over four months remaining before the Glendora to Pomona project will reach substantial completion, crews continue to conduct active train testing throughout the corridor to ensure all elements of the new light rail system work as intended, while simultaneously completing the remaining construction activities, including work at the four new stations. Overall, major construction of the Glendora to Pomona project is now approximately 90% complete and remains on time and on budget.

Additionally, the Pomona to Montclair project will soon reach its next milestone with the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to the Kiewit design-build team in September. This follows last month’s announcement by Governor Newsom and CalSTA on the release of the SB125 funds to be used for transit capital projects statewide. LA Metro is projected to receive $1 billion of those funds, and the Metro board last month once again reaffirmed their commitment to allocate $798 million of the SB125 funds to complete the LA County portion of the final 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair segment (that includes stations in Claremont and Montclair).

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 in Glendora (top and bottom) and San Dimas (middle)

As seen in the photos above, active train testing continues to be underway throughout the 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, ensures that all of the new systems work together as designed. Initial active train testing took place between San Dimas and Pomona, but now includes Glendora as well. Nearly all of the active train testing is taking place during nighttime hours, with some intermittent testing during the day, to allow construction to continue throughout the corridor during daytime hours.

Photo: Active train testing underway at night in Glendora

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

The four new light rail stations are 80% complete overall. All station canopies have now been installed, and work continues on the station platforms and 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, as they prepare them for 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; (middle, bottom) Crews installing concrete column bases for ticketing area canopy

At the future Glendora station, crews are currently carrying out work on and around the station platform. As seen in the photos above, crews are currently installing the decorative concrete column bases for the ticketing area canopies.

Photos: Crews constructing foundations for the bike shelter (top) and bike racks (bottom) at future Glendora station

North of the station platform, crews are constructing the bike shelter and racks that will allow future riders to securely store their bikes at the station. As seen in the photos above, crews have completed work on the foundations and will soon begin work on the bike shelter structure itself, as well as the canopy structure for the bike racks. The bike racks will be under a canopy and include 10 racks, while the bike shelter will feature 32 bike racks, with room to expand to 48 racks in the future.

Photo: Crews constructing retaining wall for pedestrian undercrossing at future Glendora station

Just south of the platform, progress also continues on access 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 photo above, crews continue to construct the retaining wall for the walkway to the undercrossing from the east end of the station.

Photo: Future Glendora station parking facility construction underway

Crews also continue to construct the station parking facility that’s south of the platform. As seen in the photo above, crews have constructed the curbs and are now completing final underground utility work.

San Dimas Station

Photo: Future San Dimas station construction underway

At the future San Dimas station, crews have completed the installation of the architectural pavers for the walking and standing areas of the platform, as well as the tactile pavers on the edges of the platform, as seen in the photo above.

Photo: Crews completing work on safety equipment at entrance of future San Dimas station

At the entrance to the station platform, crews are completing final work on the safety equipment, as seen in the photo above.

Photo: Future San Dimas station parking facility construction underway

Across the street and west of the future station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews have constructed the curbs and are now completing final underground utility work.

La Verne Station

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

At the future La Verne station, crews have completed the installation of the tactile pavers along the edges of the platform, as seen in the photos above. The tactile pavers provide visual and tactile warnings to future riders as they approach the edge of the station platform.

Photo: Crews installing architectural pavers on La Verne station platform

With that work completed, crews are now installing the architectural pavers for the standing and walking areas of the platform, as seen in the photo above. The color of the 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 message board signs and informational screens at La Verne station platform

As seen in the photo above, crews continue to install the message board signs and informational screens that will provide future riders arrival times and more. And, to the south of the future station, construction continues on the station parking facility, as seen in the photo below.

Photo: Future La Verne station parking facility construction underway

Pomona Station

Photos: (top) Future Pomona station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing diamond-shaped shingles atop main boarding canopy

At the future Pomona station, crews are installing the decorative roof elements atop the station’s canopy structures. As seen in the photo above, crews have completed the installation of the metal roof atop the main boarding canopy, and are now installing the diamond-shaped shingles on top.

Photos: Crews installing decorative glass panels atop ticketing area canopies at future Pomona station

The future Pomona station also features three ticketing areas (one at the west entrance to the platform, and two at the east entrance). Crews are currently installing the decorative glass panels atop the three canopies. As seen in the photos above, the glass panels feature citrus-inspired patterns designed by Alignment artist Christie Beniston.

Photo: Crews installing tactile pavers on station platform

In addition, as seen in the photo above, crews are also installing the tactile pavers.

Photos: (top) Crews reconstructing the westernmost section of the Metrolink parking lot between the future Pomona light rail station and Pomona North Metrolink station; (bottom) Relocated ticket vending machine canopy for Metrolink station

Just south of the future station, crews continue to rebuild the existing parking area for the Pomona North Metrolink station. Crews have already completed the necessary work at the easternmost and center sections of the parking lot to allow them to reopen for use, and are now rebuilding the westernmost section. As seen in the photo above, this work also includes relocating the Metrolink ticket vending machines and canopy to the east, which is needed to allow for space to accommodate the future pedestrian path between the future Metro station and the Metrolink station. The westernmost section, including the entrance to the lot from Fulton Rd., will remain fully closed through September 30. For information on the ongoing closure and work, click here.

Photo: Future Pomona station parking facility construction underway

Southeast of the future Pomona station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility, as seen in the photo above.

Sound Wall Installation Nearing Completion

Photos: Crews installing sound wall panels in Glendora

Crews are nearing completion on installation of approximately 28,000 linear feet of decorative sound walls from Glendora to Pomona. The sound walls will help reduce noise from the light rail trains for adjacent homes and noise sensitive neighbors. The sound wall panels were fabricated locally before being delivered for installation. As seen in the photos above, the sound walls feature citrus-inspired patterns designed by Alignment artist Christie Beniston.

Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements

Photo: Crews restriping White Ave. between Arrow Hwy. and 6th St. in La Verne

As seen in the photo above, crews this week began restriping White Ave. between Arrow Hwy. and 6th St. The restriping of the street was a requirement of the California Public Utilities Commission to add northbound capacity to sufficiently reduce the hazard of cars backing up and onto the railroad tracks in the morning and afternoon peak travel periods once the Metro A Line is operational. Once the striping is finished this week, White Ave. will have two northbound lanes, one southbound lane (shared with bikes) and an auxiliary center median lane for left turns.

This week, the corners of Fulton Rd./Arrow Hwy. in La Verne will fully reopen, as well as Elwood Ave., north and south of Foothill Blvd., in Glendora. Both will reopen this week and will have new traffic signals installed as part of the project.

Work will continue at the grade crossings throughout the project through the end of 2024 to complete punch list items. 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).

Preparing First Responders for the Glendora to Pomona Project

Photos: Construction Authority staff providing training to help familiarize first responders with new light rail system

As the project’s construction winds down over the next four months, and testing of the new light rail system continues, an important piece of completing the project is making sure first responders (police, firefighters, paramedics, etc.) understand how to navigate the corridor, trains and stations in cases of emergencies. As part of the project’s Fire Life Safety coordination, Construction Authority staff have been providing training to help first responders familiarize themselves with the access (enter) and egress (exit) points along the corridor and at the future stations. As seen in the photos above, Construction Authority staff have been visiting fire stations that serve the corridor cities to provide further in-depth training on the light rail system, as well as going through emergency scenarios. Later this year, first responders will conduct emergency drills with test trains on the project as part of their preparation.

Pomona to Montclair Segment: Procurement Process Nears 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 will soon reach its next milestone with release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to the Kiewit design-build team in September. This follows the Foothill Gold Line board’s action at their July meeting 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.

As a reminder, in early July, Governor Newsom and CalSTA, the agency overseeing the $4 billion funding program (SB125) for transit capital projects statewide that was approved by the state legislature and governor last summer, announced the release of these funds. LA Metro is projected to receive $1 billion of SB125 funds over three years. That same month, the LA Metro board reaffirmed their commitment to allocate $798 million of the funds to complete the LA County portion of the final 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair.

Once funding is fully in place and a design-build team hired, the shovel-ready Pomona to Montclair segment will take approximately five years to complete.

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