Foothill Gold Line E-News

November 2024

Pomona to Montclair Segment: Construction Authority Board Approves Funding Agreement

Photo: Elected officials at the state and local levels, along with current and former Construction Authority board members and Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian, celebrating approval of funding agreement with Metro for 3.2-mile, two-station Foothill Gold Line light rail project from Pomona to Montclair.

At their November meeting, the Construction Authority Board of Directors approved the $798 million amendment to the funding agreement between Metro and the Construction Authority for construction of the Los Angeles County portion of the 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair project segment. This follows last month’s approval of the agreement by the Metro Board; allowing the Construction Authority the ability to award a contract for the design-build project on the current procurement schedule in Spring 2025.

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) has dedicated $80 million of state and local funding for the San Bernardino County portion of the project.

Photos (top to bottom): Construction Authority board members: Glendora Mayor Mendell Thompson (Vice Chair), Claremont Council Member Ed Reece (Chair) and Metro board member, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval (member); Assembly Member Chris Holden; former Construction Authority and Metro board member, former Duarte Mayor and Council Member John Fasana; and former Construction Authority board member, former Glendora Mayor and Council Member Cliff Hamlow.

As seen in the photos above, in attendance for this historic milestone and vote by the Construction Authority board were elected officials at the state and local levels, including Assembly Member Chris Holden; representatives of Los Angeles County Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis; former Construction Authority and Metro board member, former Duarte Mayor and Council Member John Fasana; and former Construction Authority board member, former Glendora Mayor and Council Member Cliff Hamlow.

Once the contract is awarded, it will take approximately five years to complete the Pomona to Montclair project.

For more information on the future stations, read the latest station fact sheets for Claremont (click here) and Montclair (click here).

Glendora to Pomona Segment: Countdown to Substantial Completion

The 9.1-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project is now more than 92% complete and remains on time and on budget to reach substantial completion and be turned over to Metro the first week of January 2025. With just over four weeks remaining of major construction, crews are busy throughout the corridor completing testing of the new light rail system and completing essential work at the four new stations, plaza areas and associated parking facilities.

What Does Substantial Completion Mean?

Achieving substantial completion means that the entire newly-constructed light rail system (including the stations, tracks, power system, train control system, grade crossing safety equipment, communications system, etc.) from Glendora to Pomona is fully functional and ready to be used as intended. After reaching substantial completion, smaller, final elements of work (known as punch list items) will remain to be completed throughout the corridor and station areas, but they will not have an impact on Metro’s ability to ready the new extension for passenger service. Metro decides when the new stations will open for passenger service.

Read on below for more on the progress of the Glendora to Pomona project.

Active Train Testing Underway (Light Rail Ongoing; Freight Complete)

Photos: Active train testing underway at future Glendora (top) and Pomona (bottom) stations

As seen in the photos above, active train testing continues to be underway throughout the 9.1-mile Glendora to Pomona project 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, will continue through the end of the year to ensure that all of the new systems work together as designed.

Photo: Construction Authority and CPUC staff reviewing Fulton Rd. grade crossing in Pomona

While nearly all of the active train testing has been taking place during nighttime hours to allow construction to continue during the day, crews over the past week conducted daytime testing as part of the final certification process of the grade crossings by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC oversees all rail crossings in the state. The Construction Authority five years ago submitted and received approval for designs of all the grade crossings from Glendora to Montclair. As seen in the photo above, staff from the CPUC are reviewing and inspecting the safety equipment (gates for vehicles and pedestrians, signals and more) at the grade crossings to ensure that they work as intended. CPUC staff will return to inspect more grade crossings in December, requiring active train testing to take place during daytime hours. More information on that daytime testing will be made available when ready.

Stay Safe, Be Alert

Crews are now running light rail 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 of the light rail system and safety precautions, click here for the construction notice.

Photos: Freight train testing in San Dimas (top) and Pomona (bottom)

In addition, crews recently completed testing of the freight track system that was relocated throughout the corridor to make room for the new light rail tracks. As seen in the photos above, crews utilized a BNSF freight train over two weekends to successfully test all elements of the relocated freight system.

Metro Running Bus Shuttles Between Monrovia and Azusa as Crews Integrate Existing Metro A Line with Glendora to Pomona Extension

Photo: Construction Authority, Metro and KPJV staff at future Glendora station

While the Glendora to Pomona project will be turned over to Metro in early-January 2025, crews from Metro, the Construction Authority and KPJV have already begun working together to integrate the existing Metro A Line with the new extension of the light rail system. As a result of this effort, which began in mid-October, Metro is running bus shuttles on certain weekends from the A Line stations between Monrovia and Azusa to allow crews time to test the integration of all elements of the existing light rail systems with the new one.

For more information on when and where the bus shuttles will replace rail service during the upcoming weekends of testing, click here for Metro’s official notice. For questions, please contact Metro Customer Service at 1-323-466-3876 (1-323-Go Metro) or customerrelations@metro.net.

Four New Stations Nearing Completion

With just over a month remaining of major construction, crews continue to make substantial progress constructing the four new light rail stations. Work is ongoing on and around the station platforms, including for the walkways and plazas, as well as the parking facilities. Each station’s artist/artist team continues to bring their art pieces to reality, with most of their pieces already completed and installed or awaiting 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; (bottom) Crews constructing canopy structure for bike racks at future Glendora station

At the future Glendora station, just north of the platform, crews continue to construct the bike racks and shelter that will allow future riders to securely store their bikes at the station, as seen in the photos above. 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. Each bike shelter at the future stations will allow riders to store their bikes in a secure, enclosed room – accessible only to registered TAP card users. For more information on Metro’s bike storage program, click here.

Photo: Crews installing light fixtures at future Glendora station platform canopy

On the station platform, crews are installing the light fixtures onto the canopies, as seen in the photo above.

Photos: Crews constructing walkway from Vermont (top) and Glendora (bottom) Aves to the pedestrian undercrossing at future Glendora station

Just south of the platform, progress also continues on the walkway 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 photos above, crews are currently constructing the walkways from both the west and east station entrances, as well as from the future surface parking lot.

Photo: Future Glendora station parking facility construction underway

Crews also continue to construct the station parking facility that’s south of the station, as seen in the photo above.

San Dimas Station

Photos: (top) Future San Dimas station construction underway; (bottom) Installation of concrete column bases for main boarding canopy underway

At the future San Dimas station platform, crews are currently installing the concrete column bases for the main boarding canopy. As seen in the photos above, the column bases have spaces where the art tiles from the San Dimas station artist team of Eugene Daub and Anne Olsen Daub will be installed.

Photos: Completed bas-relief ceramic tiles designed by San Dimas station artist team of Eugene Daub and Anne Olsen Daub (top)

As seen in the photos above, the bas-relief ceramic tiles from Eugene and Anne have been fabricated, with each tile featuring the wildlife and landscapes that can be found throughout San Dimas. Crews will install the tiles in early December.

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.

La Verne Station

Photos: (top) Future La Verne station construction underway; Crews installing display cases (middle) and emergency telephone (bottom) on station platform

At the future La Verne station, crews are currently installing equipment on the station platform. As seen in the photos above, crews are installing information display cases to host the Metro system maps, as well as the emergency telephone system.

Photo: Crews constructing foundation for future bike shelter at La Verne station

Just south of the platform, crews are constructing the foundation for the future bike shelter. The bike shelter at the La Verne station will feature 64 bike racks in a secure, enclosed room – accessible only to registered TAP card users. For more information on Metro’s bike storage program, click here.

Photo: Crews constructing walkway to future La Verne station from White Ave.

As seen in the photo above, crews are currently constructing the walkway that will allow future riders walking access to the station platform from White Ave. and the parking lot, which also continues to be under construction.

Photos: La Verne station art sculptures installed

At the station plaza area, crews recently completed installation of the three art sculptures designed by La Verne station artist Blue McRight. The three ten-foot-tall sculptures pay homage to La Verne’s history and architecture, as well as the community’s connection to water and agriculture. Each sculpture is oriented in a different direction, with each pointing to one of three community landmarks in La Verne: Downtown La Verne; the University of La Verne and the Pomona Fairplex. As seen in the photos above, Blue was joined by Construction Authority board member and La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn, as well as Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian and staff, to witness the unveiling of her installed art sculptures for the first time.

Pomona Station

Photos: (top) Future Pomona station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing architectural pavers on station platform

At the future Pomona station, crews are currently installing the architectural pavers for the main boarding area of the station platform, as seen in the photos above. The color of the architectural 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. After pavers have been installed, Metro will begin to install the ticket vending machines and patron turnstile gates.

Photos: Paver installation underway at west entrance (top) and ticketing vending machine area (bottom) at future Pomona station

At the west entrance to the station platform, crews are constructing the walkway to the ticket vending machine area and platform ramp. As seen in the photos above, crews have installed most of the pavers for the walkway leading up to the ticketing vending machine area, and are now installing the pavers under the ticketing canopy.

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.

Photo: Crews reconstructing the center and east sections of the Metrolink parking lot between the future Pomona light rail station and Pomona North Metrolink station

Crews also continue to rebuild the existing parking area for the Pomona North Metrolink station. Crews already completed the reconstruction of the westernmost section of the parking lot, along with the Fulton Rd. entrance, allowing both to be reopened for use last month. Following the completion of that work, crews fully closed the center and easternmost sections of the parking lot, as well as the entrance via Santa Fe St., to vehicles to complete final work on these areas, as seen in the photo above. Pedestrian access via Santa Fe St. will be maintained. For information on the closure and work, which will continue through the end of the 2024, click here.

Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements

Photo: Crews completing road work on San Dimas Ave.

In the final weeks of 2024 (and if needed, continuing after substantial completion), crews will continue to work at the grade crossings throughout the project to complete final details. 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).

Station Area Fencing Installation Nearing Completion

Photos: Crews installing fencing at future Glendora station

Throughout the corridor, crews are nearing completion on the installation of miles of fencing to prevent unauthorized access to the tracks. Crews have installed nearly all of the fencing along the corridor between the stations, and are now completing the fencing installation at the station areas, as seen in the photos above.

Overall, 99% of the fencing, sound walls and retaining walls throughout the corridor have been completed.

To see progress of the entire project from Glendora to Pomona, click here or below to watch the latest project progress 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