Foothill Gold Line E-News

March 2025 E-News Update

Glendora to Pomona Project Update: Preparing for Passenger Service

Photos: New stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona

It has been nearly three months since the Construction Authority reached substantial completion on time and on budget on the four-station Glendora to Pomona project segment. Since then, the 9.1-mile extension has been turned over to LA Metro for final systems integration testing, safety and occupancy certification processes, punch list walks, final paperwork, pre-revenue operations, among other tasks needed to take place before passenger service can begin. When ready, LA Metro will announce when passenger service will begin. A start date has not yet been announced, but it is anticipated this coming summer.

Although the project is substantially complete and turned over to Metro, the Construction Authority and KPJV continue to work alongside Metro’s teams to support their efforts to prepare the line for passenger service, as well as continuing to complete smaller, final elements of work (known as punch list items) throughout the corridor and station areas.

Photos: Nighttime lighting tests being conducted at the four new stations for the station art

At the four new stations, Construction Authority and KPJV staff, along with the city-selected station artists, have been carrying out nighttime lighting tests for the installed station artworks, as seen in the photos above. The goal of these lighting tests is to find the optimal placement of lights to allow future riders the best experience possible when viewing the station art at night.

Photos of station area amenities (top to bottom): Landscaping, pedestrian walkway, benches at drop-off/pick-up areas and secure bike lockers

As seen in the photos above, crews are also putting the final touches on the station area amenities, including the landscaping, secure bike lockers, walkways, benches and more.

Photos: First responders conducting emergency drills at San Dimas station (top) and San Dimas Canyon Rd. grade crossing (middle); (bottom) First responders holding tabletop exercises

As part of the preparation for passenger service, Metro, with the support from the Construction Authority and KPJV, have begun conducting emergency drills and safety education for their team and area first responders. As seen in the photos above, emergency drills took place this past month at the San Dimas station and at the San Dimas Canyon Rd. grade crossing. More drills will take place in the weeks and months ahead, along with tabletop exercises where Metro and first responders discuss and go over different emergency scenarios.

Stay Safe, Be Alert

Additionally, we expect that in April Metro will start running more trains through the Glendora to Pomona extension. Please stay safe by always expecting a train when crossing the railroad corridor. The light rail trains will run up to their maximum speed of 55 MPH. 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:

• 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.

When Can I Ride? Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions About the Glendora to Pomona Project.

When can I begin riding the new extension?
Now that Metro has taken over the project, they have several important tasks they need to perform before opening the line for service. These activities can take several months and include final testing of the systems, receiving certificates of occupancy, certifications from the California Public Utilities Commission for the grade crossings, safety exercises and certifications, hiring and training of staff, running “pre-revenue service” and then finally opening the line for revenue service (among other tasks). When ready, Metro will announce when passenger service will begin. A start date has not yet been announced, but it is anticipated sometime this coming summer.

What does substantial completion mean?
Achieving substantial completion means that the entire newly constructed light rail system from Glendora to Pomona is fully functional and ready to be used as intended. Smaller, final elements of work (mostly categorized as punch list items) will be completed throughout the corridor and at the station areas through 2025, but these continuing work activities do not impact Metro’s ability to ready the new extension for passenger service.

Where are the new stations located?
Click below to see each station location on Google Maps.

• Glendora Station
• San Dimas Station
• La Verne/Fairplex Station
• Pomona North Station

Will there be parking, bike lockers and drop-off areas at the new stations? How many parking spaces are available at each station?
Yes. The four new stations have parking facilities built adjacent to or across the street from the station platforms with parking for about 300 cars. All station parking facilities were built to be multi-modal – and include EV chargers, bicycle parking, drop-off areas for buses and ride-sharing, along with easy access for pedestrians. At the Pomona North Station, parking will be shared with Metrolink. All operational decisions regarding parking (i.e., fees for parking, permit availability, etc.) are made by Metro.

How long will it take to ride the Metro A Line from the new stations to Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles?
See the table below for estimates of travel times from the new Glendora to Pomona stations:

* Travel times are approximate and will be determined by LA Metro.

How much will it cost to ride the Metro A Line? Where can I find more information on train schedules, getting to destinations, reserving bike lockers, parking fees or anything else related to riding the Metro A Line?
Questions related to the operational Metro system should be directed to LA Metro (the Construction Authority is a separate government agency from LA Metro): Metro’s customer relations is available at 1-323-Go Metro (1-323-466-3876) or customerrelations@metro.net. Train schedules and other information are also available at www.metro.net.

For other frequently asked questions you may have about the Foothill Gold Line, click here.

Pomona to Montclair Update: Construction Authority Announces New Plan to Deliver Pomona to Montclair Project

Graphics: Artist renderings of future stations in Claremont (top) and Montclair (bottom)

On March 19, Kiewit delivered its final offer to design-build the 3.2-mile, two-station Foothill Gold Line light rail project from Pomona to Montclair. Despite numerous efforts by the Construction Authority to collaborate, including making dozens of contract changes requested by Kiewit to reduce costs, Kiewit’s final bid remained hundreds of millions of dollars above expert estimates and available funding. As a result, it was deemed both impossible and inappropriate to move forward with their bid.

After careful consideration, the Construction Authority board of directors at their meeting on March 26 directed staff to cancel the ongoing design-build procurement (C3001) and pursue a new plan to deliver the project using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) delivery method. The board directed staff to come back in April with more details on the new plan, including a timeline for expediting project delivery with a Request for Proposals for project design to be issued in June. The new plan was deemed the best approach to put available dollars to their best use and prioritize efficient construction.

The Construction Authority is proud of our 25-year track record of delivering three project segments on time and on budget. Together with our partners, we are committed to completing this final project segment and achieving our collective goal of expanded transit and improved quality of life for the region.

Foothill Gold Line Booths at Upcoming Earth Day Events

Photo: Foothill Gold Line booth at past community event.

Foothill Gold Line staff will be hosting information booths at Earth Day festivals in April in the cities of Glendora, San Dimas and Claremont. Stop by our booths to ask staff questions and learn more about the Foothill Gold Line, including the current and future project segments. See below for more information.

—

Glendora Earth Day Festival

WHEN: Saturday, April 26 – 9 AM to 1 PM
WHERE: Finkbiner Park, 181 N. Cullen Ave., Glendora, CA 91741

Click here for more information.

—

San Dimas Arbor and Earth Day

WHEN: Saturday, April 26 – 10 AM to 1 PM
WHERE: San Dimas Civic Center, 245 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773

Click here for more information.

—

Claremont Earth Day Celebration

WHEN: Sunday, April 27 – 8:30 AM to 1 PM
WHERE: Shelton Park, W. Bonita Ave. & Harvard Ave N., Claremont, CA 91711

Click here for more information.

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